Blake Shelton Joins Coaching Panel on 'The Voice'

The country star adds his expertise to Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo and Adam Levine in the new singing competition

Published on March 7, 2011 02:15 PM

He’s a little bit country, and they’re all ready to rock ‘n’ roll.

Blake Shelton, who was named male vocalist of the year at the 2010 CMA Awards, rounds out the four-judge panel on The Voice, PEOPLE has confirmed.

Shelton, 34, who is engaged to fellow country artist Miranda Lambert, joins Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, and Maroon 5’s singer Adam Levine as a coach on NBC’s new singing competition series, which premieres April 26.

“I’m not sure The Voice knows what they signed on for by bringing me on the show,” Shelton said jokingly in a statement. “I know this for sure – Christina, Cee Lo, Adam and I are going to have a blast and I am extremely excited to be part of a show that recognizes true vocal talent.”

When The Voice kicks off, the four mentors will select contestants based on blind auditions to form their teams, in which the mentors will bring in colleagues from the music industry to help mold their singers into superstar talent.

The singers will later compete against each other in vocal battles, culminating in live stage shows in which the TV audience will help coaches make the decision on who stays or goes.

The show, to be hosted by Carson Daly, will reach its climax when each coach has one contestant left for the finale. The winner from this final four will win a recording contract and $100,000.

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