Did Blake Shelton hint that his 'The Voice' coaching days are nearing an end?

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 4/7/21

Blake Shelton has been with The Voice since its April 2011 debut, but the 44-year-old isn't necessarily looking to sign a lifetime contract with the NBC singing competition series.

Shelton served as a surprise co-host on Today with Hoda & Jenna with Hoda Kotb last week. Kotb asked the Grammy-nominated country star if he pictured himself "living a simpler life" 10 years from now with fiancee Gwen Stefani.

"I hope that's not too far down the road," he said. "Ten years sounds like way too long to me. I'd like to see that sooner than later. We've both pretty much taken it to the limit as far as our careers go—touring and now the television thing. It's been fortunate to accomplish a lot of things, but hopefully at some point, we'll get a chance to live some life. I think we're both ready for that, honestly."

The one and only @blakeshelton joins @hodakotb as a surprise co-host while Jenna enjoys some time off. He talks about Ariana Grande joining #TheVoice next season, his upcoming album and more! pic.twitter.com/vjCRDsuu8A
— TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) March 31, 2021

Shelton and Stefani met through The Voice when Stefani signed on to be a coach for Season 7 in late 2014. (The "Hollaback Girl" singer returned to the role for seasons 9, 12, 17, and as recently as last season.) Their relationship didn't take off until 2015, though, following their respective divorces.

Shelton is the only coach remaining from the Season 1 cast, and the announcement came March 30 that next season will feature Ariana Grande filling the seat occupied by Nick Jonas for the currently airing Season 20:

surprise !!! i am beyond thrilled, honored, excited to be joining @kellyclarkson @johnlegend @blakeshelton next season ~ season 21 of @nbcthevoice ! @nickjonas we will miss you pic.twitter.com/BAmaXxDVLp
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) March 30, 2021

"I'm excited about that," Shelton told Kotb. "There's one chair on The Voice it seems like lately it's turned into this revolving door of different coaches that we're able to bring in, and they never let us know who it's gonna be, by the way. ... I'm a fan of hers. I'm not gonna lie: we're still gonna beat the cr-p out of her on the show. They pay us to win, Hoda. They don't pay me to lose."

He added: "I used to look like Ariana when I started this show, and now look at me."

Outside of his Voice duties, Shelton will drop his 12th studio album Body Language on May 21. The title track reunites him with The Swon Brothers, who finished third on Team Blake for The Voice's fifth season in 2013, and the album track list also includes single "Happy Anywhere" featuring Stefani.

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