Irish or Southern tinge in the voice? The former One Direction singer and current Voice coach Niall Horan is seen delivering his best impression of one of the other coaches on the singing competition show, Blake Shelton, in a preview for season 23 of The Voice.
The upcoming season of The Voice will mark Shelton’s final stint as a coach on the panel after serving for 12 seasons. Horan declares, “This is my last season on The Voice, and I would be honored if you were to be on the last-ever Team Blake,” alluding to Shelton’s exit from the program.
Shelton, Horan, Kelly Clarkson, and Chance the Rapper serve as coaches for season 23.
The Voice trailer shows Shelton asking Horan if he’s going to “pretend like you know something about country music” during the Blind Auditions, hinting at the playful rivalry between the coaches. Clarkson is then criticized by Shelton, who claims that she “always acts like she understands anything about country music.”
Horan responds with a strong rejoinder, “I am, indeed. That is how I plan to defeat Kelly Clarkson. I’m following you in every direction you turn.”
When Horan confidently asks Shelton if he has a chance of defeating the steadfast coach in his final season on the program, Shelton simply replies, “I don’t know.” “No. I’d want to elaborate. But, no.”
Shelton startled viewers when he announced in October that season 23 of the show would be his last appearance in the notorious spinning chairs.
In a statement at the time, Shelton said, “I’ve been debating this for a while and I’ve decided that it’s time for me to move away from The Voice after season 23. “My life has been completely improved by this program, and I will always feel at home there. It’s been a wild ride over the past 12 years of chair turns, and I want to thank everyone at The Voice from NBC, including all of the producers, writers, musicians, crew members, and caterers. You are the best.”
“A live show twice a week requires a lot of effort, passion, and adult beverages (Ha!). Over the years, I’ve developed enduring relationships with Carson and each and every one of my fellow coaches, including my wife, Gwen Stefani! I must give a major shout-out to the singers, the “Voices,” who return year after year to this stage and astound us with their skill. I must also express my gratitude to those who picked me as their coach. Last but not least, it’s about you, the viewers who support these artists, us coaches, and everyone else at The Voice as they pursue their ambitions. Without you, it would not be possible!”
The Voice’s 23rd season will debut on NBC on March 6 at 8:00 p.m. PT/ET.