Blake Shelton announced that he's leaving NBC's The Voice in 2023 -- and so ends the show's golden age. The nine-time Grammy Award nominee was the last original coach on the reality show and spent more than a decade in his big red chair. He also gained a reputation for dominating the competition, winning eight times, including three seasons in a row. But those aren't the real reasons that his departure is a huge loss.

Shelton isn't just a massive country music superstar. Nor is he only The Voice's comic relief. He filled many roles on the singing competition, from coach to real-life mentor to promotional machine. He was a touchpoint for audiences as the show -- and even NBC's primetime schedule -- changed. He defined what a coach on The Voice was supposed to be -- and everyone else is following in his footsteps.

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Blake Shelton Helped Make The Voice Successful

The Voice Blake Shelton couch

Without Blake Shelton, The Voice wouldn't have gotten to 23 seasons. The show's original coaches -- Shelton, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green -- caught lightning in a bottle. They genuinely got along and genuinely wanted to be there. If they'd just been four music superstars doing a TV show, NBC would've had another Rising Star or Clash of the Choirs on its hands. Shelton, who appeared on the latter and a season of Nashville Star, already knew what it took to be successful. He approached the show in a unique way and played a number of roles that kept the series fresh.

There was his bromance/rivalry with Levine that propelled the show through its early years. His larger-than-life Twitter persona gave fans and media outlets plenty to talk about. And after those wins in Seasons 2-4, Shelton even became something of a bogeyman for the show, as viewers argued that he was so heavily favored by artists and country fans that it was no longer meaningful. Now Kelly Clarkson has won four times in the last eight seasons, but Blake was willing to play the "villain" if that's what it took.

Most importantly, he took the "coach" part of The Voice very seriously. Unlike the long-running American Idol, The Voice saw its stars as more than judges. It wanted them to be hands-on -- and Shelton took that to heart. He gave some of the most detailed feedback on the show and fans saw his joy when he got to perform with his artists. More than that, he encouraged them through tough spots and supported them after their seasons ended. As much as he loved competing, The Voice was never just a competition to Blake Shelton. It was a calling and that heart made the series last as long as it has.

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The Voice Will Feel Blake Shelton's Departure

The Voice Blake Shelton chair

The Voice is essentially NBC's reality TV version of the Law & Order franchise. The format is considered the star of the show, so anyone can fill one of the big red chairs as long as they're a recognizable name. Except that's not true to the fans. Viewers embrace the coaches, particularly when NBC's two cycles a year mean most of the contestants become faces in a growing crowd. It's telling that American Idol is on Season 21 and The Voice will be on Season 23, despite premiering almost a decade later. Shelton's presence was the through-line that kept the latter stable. No matter what else happened, Blake was always there.

While Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan are similarly big names, it takes more than a prominent name to be a great coach. Viewers don't know if either one will have Shelton's coaching skills, his willingness to personally invest in his team members or his boundless personality. What made the show special at the start wasn't who won; it was that audiences saw people having positive, life-changing experiences, even if they didn't win. Later seasons have become more about results, so to keep The Voice from feeling like just another singing show, the new coaches have to utilize Blake's example: bring themselves completely to the table and enjoy the ride.

Blake Shelton was famous before The Voice and he'll be famous after The Voice. It's a wonder that he did 23 seasons when only he and Levine have even reached double digits. But what Shelton did on The Voice was something special. It was meaningful, memorable and of course, hilarious -- and will never be duplicated.

The Voice airs Mondays at 8:00 p.m. on NBC and streams on Peacock.