Here’s The Real Reason Gwen Stefani Won’t Be Back Next Season On ‘The Voice’ — & Why She’ll Probably Return
It appears that Gwen Stefani will not be returning for Season 18 of The Voice. The news broke after it was announced that Nick Jonas will be joining the cast of coaches for the reality competition singing series beginning this spring.
While fans are excited to learn that Jonas will be joining The Voice team — one that includes Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend — they are likely also saddened to see the “Just a Girl” singer exit the series.
Will her exit be temporary or permanent? Entertainment Tonight revealed that the singer may likely return to the series at a later time, but for now, she’s keeping herself busy with other engagements. Her absence from this season of The Voice is detailed by ET as being part of the show’s process of regularly refreshing their on-air talent.
Fans should not count Stefani out in terms of a potential appearance on the NBC show in the future, however. The show likes to rotate judges in order to keep the format fresh, and to accommodate the ever-changing schedules of the artists that coach the hopefuls on the series.
Stefani spoke about her tight scheduling commitments — which include work on both The Voice and a Vegas residency — in addition to raising her three sons.
“I didn’t expect to be doing [the Vegas show] and ‘The Voice’ at the same time,” she said. “I just feel like I’m alive in a way I’ve never been before because I have to be! Because doing both is a lot.”
Stefani kicked off her “Just a Girl” residency in June of 2018, and will wrap up her dates at Planet Hollywood’s Zappos Theater in February and May of 2020.
The Inquisitr had earlier reported that Nick Jonas will take Stefani’s place when the show returns for its spring cycle in 2020. Jonas wraps up his “Happiness Begins” tour with the Jonas Brothers on February 22, in Paris, France, so The Voice filming cycle works with his schedule.
Nick, alongside his brothers Joe and Kevin Jonas, appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about their “Happiness Begins” tour, also speaking of their future plans. Instead, Ellen got Nick to admit to a rumor she had heard, one that she wanted to clarify right then and there.
It was at that time that she played a video from The Voice coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend, the clip seeing the judges welcome Nick to the panel. People Magazine reported that Nick explained how he wanted to spill the beans himself, but appeared fine with allowing Ellen to do it for him.
“I am so excited about this,” said Nick to Ellen and her studio audience. “You’re basically the first people I’ve told, so thank you for being a part of this special moment for me. Just to be clear, Blake, I’m going to kick your a**. I think Kelly’s point about forming an alliance might make sense, and John, I love you, but we need a side conversation to figure some things out.”
Until Jonas slides into Stefani’s seat, the former No Doubt singer will continue to battle her fellow coaches as The Voice continues. The show airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC.
