John Legend explains The Voice departure as Season 26 replacement is revealed

John Legend has provided some insight about why he is leaving The Voice, as NBC also shares who his replacement will be.

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The Voice is losing more coaches, but John Legend is sharing his reasons why he’s stepping away from the NBC series — as the network unveils who will be spinning their chairs around in Season 26.

Legend, as well as fellow Season 25 coaches Chance the Rapper and Dan + Shay, are all not returning for a new season, leaving just Reba McEntire, who fans have been divided on, coming back.

McEntire herself was a replacement coach, taking over after Blake Shelton exited after Season 23, and the show’s execs have warned that they are all replaceable.

 

Naturally, they are also welcome to come back, and many have — with Shelton also reportedly considering making a return one day.

However, while Legend is stepping away, he has shared that it isn’t necessarily permanent for him either.

 

John Legend

John Legend, Chance the Rapper and Dan Shay are all leaving The Voice (Image: NBC)

Speaking to ET, he shared he simply has too much on his plate at the moment, and is taking a break from the show to spend more time with wife, Chrissy Teigen and their children–daughters Luna and Esti and sons Miles and Wren.

“We’ve always got so many things going on,” he said. “I’ll be doing a lot of shows this summer and traveling overseas.”

He also shared he could make a return.

“I’ll be back. If only I were actually going to take a break!” he added.

 

John Legend

Legend was a coach on The Voice since Season 16 (Image: NBC)

While Legend and two of his fellow coaches are leaving, NBC has already revealed the three coaches that are replacing them.

Gwen Stefani, who has already coached Seasons seven, nine, 12, 17, 19 (which she won), 22 and 24, will be coming back once again, while Snoop Doog and Michael Buble join for the first time.

The show is no stranger to rotating out coaches throughout the seasons.

In addition to Legend, Shelton, Stefani, Chance, Dan + Shay and McEntire, coaches on the show have included Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Usher, Pharell Williams, Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello and Niall Horan.