Even if Blake Shelton was a coach on “The Voice” for 23 seasons, he couldn’t be happier to step away from Hollywood and return to his country music roots.

“I really, and I mean it really committed to not being on a TV show anymore,” Shelton says People. “It’s just been great for me to get back into the mode of, ‘Hey, I’m a country singer first.’ That’s what I left Ada, Oklahoma, when I was a teenager to be, I never want to get that far away from what I feel like I was going to do ever again.

After announcing his exit, Shelton admitted that he had been itching to leave for a while.

Blake Shelton never had plans to stay in Hollywood long term. (Getty Images)

“I think I was close to calling it a day right when covid hit. And then because of covid, I didn’t want to walk away from the show and leave everyone in lockdown. I mean, this show changed my life,” he admitted he to “Today” host Carson Daly, who also hosts “The Voice,” in February 2023.

BLAKE SHELTON QUIT ‘THE VOICE’ TO FOCUS ON PARENTING WITH GWEN STEFANI: ‘I TAKE THAT JOB VERY SERIOUSLY’

But Shelton says there is one scenario that would intrigue him enough to return. “If they could ever put the four original coaches back together, maybe (I would return) for a season, a one-off,” he shared at the time.

“I, and I mean really, committed to not being on a TV show anymore. It’s just been great for me to get back into the mode of, ‘Hey, I’m a country singer first.’ That’s why I left Ada , Oklahoma, when I was a teenager so that I will never again stray so far from what I feel I was meant to do.

— Blake Shelton

“It would be fun for me… It would be something I would be interested in doing,” he said of reuniting with CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine.

Maroon 5 frontman Levine left the show after 16 seasons, while Aguilera and Green’s tenures were much shorter.

In the meantime, Shelton is content making country music again.

Blake Shelton was a coach on “The Voice” for 23 seasons. (Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

“The last few years, especially since I retired from ‘The Voice,’ I’ve just tried to be very mindful of the next thing I do, be thoughtful about it and make sure I’m not just doing things because I’m on the hamster wheel anymore,” Shelton tells People. “It happens, and before you know it you’re like, ‘Oh my God, where did the last 10 years go?’

Earlier this year, Shelton left Warner Music Nashville after 25 years and signed with BMG. Taking some time off allowed the musician to make “big, big changes” in his career, which has restored his passion for creating country music.

Shelton’s latest single, “Texas,” was released Friday.

“It was just time for a new chapter, honestly. And I’m ready for it,” he told the outlet. “When we first started down this road, the song just jumped out at me. There was something familiar about it — and then something that felt like a step forward at the same time. It’s always in the back of my mind: What’s something I haven’t done that won’t to make people say “What does he think he’s doing?”

Blake Shelton’s latest song, “Texas,” debuted on Friday. (Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT)

Although Shelton is returning to his roots, he has maintained that his experience on “The Voice” changed his life.

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“It was the biggest and most important career move of my life. I’ll always be grateful for that, and everyone who worked on that show helped me get to where I am,” he said.

Blake’s multi-decade stint on the singing competition show also led him to his wife, Gwen Stefani. She’s also releasing new music, as Stefani’s latest album, “Bouquet,” debuted Friday.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton tied the knot in 2021. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)

“It’s coming out the same day my single comes out, which is fun for both of us. I said, ‘Well, at least we’re not competing with each other on an album… but we just want to take it one day at a time, Shelton tells People. “We want it to be about our family — and then everyone else can get it back.”

Shelton explained that as he prepares to continue making music, he has set some strict boundaries around work-life balance.

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“It probably drives my boss and people who work with me crazy. I’m like, ‘Okay, you book me here to do things, but leave my Fourth of July alone.’ And when it’s fall, I don’t want to do things, that is my time to be,” he said. and so I protect it.”

Kingston Rossdale, Gwen Stefani, Apollo Rossdale, Blake Shelton and Zuma Rossdale in 2023. (Getty Images)

Shelton’s most precious time is spent at home with his family watching football. Stefani has three children – Kingston, Zuma and Apollo – with her ex-husband, Gavin Rossdale. Shelton has no biological children.

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“I’m still a big Arizona Cardinals fan. Last Sunday I told Gwen, ‘I’m having the best day.’ We had family over, cooked a good meal,” he said. “My team won. It was like, ‘I want this day every day for the rest of my life — just relaxed family and watching football.’

Despite all of Shelton’s success—which includes six ACMs and 10 CMAs—he lives a pretty simple life these days.