The Voice has returned for Season 27, continuing its journey of aspiring singers who aim to fulfill their dreams by showcasing their incredible talent to impress both the judges and the audience. However, the premiere featured a surprising twist. Many fans are now eager to know whether former judge Blake Shelton has returned to the show. So, why did Blake Shelton leave The Voice, and did he return in Season 27?

Here is everything you need to know about the singer’s departure from the musical reality show.

Why Blake Shelton exited The Voice

Blake Shelton left The Voice due to personal reasons.

For the unaware, Shelton was one of the most successful coaches in The Voice. During his stints, a total of nine of his trained contestants emerged as the winner of the show.

Despite a successful journey, Shelton decided to step away from the show after Season 23. In an interview with Access Hollywood, The Dreamer singer shared that his life changed after becoming a stepdad to his wife Gwen Stefan’s three sons. He expressed that looking after the family is not an easy job so he decided to step away from The Voice which demanded a lot of time. Shelton further added that committing to the show required a ”150 percent” contribution and those days are gone for him as he has to focus on a ”more important job.”

Blake Shelton’s surprise return in The Voice Season 27 explained

Blake Shelton returned in The Voice Season 27 through his voice recordings.

In the premiere, new coach Kelsea Ballerini decided to poke fun at returning coach Adam Levine. She decided to play recordings of Blake Shelton playfully trolling his rival Levine. Ballerini pressed the red button which started playing Shelton’s hilarious insults directed at the multi-season winner. The insults included calling Levine a ”big baby.” It also included, ”Adam, you say a lot of stupid stuff, Adam’s a crappy Coach, Adam…won’t shut up,” which left the audience in splits. (via NBC)

While Shelton might not have made a comeback as a coach, the recordings refreshed some beautiful memories for the viewers.

The Voice Season 27 airs weekly on NBC.