Blake Shelton's Absence Shifts The Voice Season 29 Dynamics

Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine and John Legend return to the red chairs for The Voice: Battle of Champions, and all three say Shelton’s absence changed the atmosphere. With a new voting system and updated rules, the season promises twists as the veteran Coaches vie to assemble winner-worthy teams.

During the Blind Auditions the panel noticed a clear difference when turning for country Artists. "It was even, which it usually is not," Clarkson said. "And we all had a chance at country." "We did," Levine agreed, noting the country frontrunners were more evenly distributed without Shelton in the mix.

The coaches’ rivalry remains playful: Clarkson joked, "Hi, Blake!" and Levine added in a mocking twang, "Hi, Blake! You're stupid!" The banter underscores a competitive tone that continued even after Shelton left the show in 2023. They’ve also adjusted to a three-chair setup and say the change improved the flow.

the voice, blake shelton, kelly clarkson, adam levine, john legend, blind auditions, country artists, voting system, three chair, season 29