The Voice 24: Reba McEntire takes Blake Shelton country chair, joins Gwen Stefani, John Legend and Niall Horan
At NBC’s upfront presentation in New York City, the coaching lineup for The Voice season 24 was announced. Reba McEntire will take the seat left by Blake Shelton, joining Gwen Stefani, John Legend and Niall Horan on the panel for the upcoming season set to air in fall 2023.
Reba McEntire, a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee with an extensive career as a singer and actress, steps into the country coach role. She served recently as a Knockouts mega mentor on season 23, helping guide artists across all four teams. Her appointment to the coaching panel marks a notable change for the series, as she replaces Blake Shelton, who long embodied the show’s country perspective.
The remaining chairs will be occupied by familiar faces. John Legend returns after a one-season hiatus and will be back as a coach for his seventh season. Gwen Stefani also returns for her seventh season following a break. Niall Horan will serve as coach for a second consecutive season, moving beyond his initial debut and bringing continued pop sensibility to the panel.
The Voice season 23 Live shows kick off Monday night (May 15)
Season 23’s live shows begin Monday, May 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with a two-hour semi-final. The top eight artists will perform live for the first time in front of coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper as they compete for spots in the finale. Viewers will cast votes in real time, with results revealed at the end of the broadcast.
The season 23 finale will air as a two-part event the following week, on Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23. Several previews and song spoilers for the Top 8 performances have circulated, and fans are already sharing predictions and polls about who will advance.
Kelly Clarkson’s absence from season 24 was anticipated. Her daytime talk show is relocating to New York City in the fall, and she has prioritized time with her family. Whether she will return for a later season remains uncertain, given her schedule and commitments. Chance the Rapper’s stint on the panel may also be short-lived; his return is unclear and could depend on future season plans.
Reba’s decision to accept the coaching role represents a shift from her earlier stance. In the past she declined an offer to join the show’s first season, preferring not to be a judge in a competition format. Now, with Blake Shelton no longer on the series, Reba has agreed to step into that country chair, bringing her decades of industry experience and a respected voice to the coaching lineup.
Producers are positioning season 24 to balance continuity and fresh energy: familiar coaches who know the format paired with Reba’s seasoned perspective. That mix should influence team dynamics, song choices and mentoring styles as the show moves into the fall schedule. Fans of the series can expect the standard mix of blind auditions, battles, knockouts and live performance rounds, with live voting once again determining which artists advance.
As the show transitions between seasons and adjusts its coaching roster, attention will remain on the contestants and how new mentor-coach pairings shape performances. Reba McEntire’s addition will likely draw interest from country music fans and longtime viewers curious to see how her expertise translates into coaching on the televised competition.