After dominating The Voice for 23 seasons, country superstar Blake Shelton is exiting the singing competition series. His popularity has led to wins for several of his singers, so he’s leaving behind big cowboy boots to fill. The good news is, his exit makes room for the show to add a new perspective to its regular rotation of coaches. To shake things up for Season 24, here are our choices for Black artists who can replace Blake Shelton on The Voice.
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Mariah Carey
At this point there’s nothing Mariah doesn’t know about voice control and mechanics. She was fantastic as a Mega Mentor a few seasons ago, and would be an amazing coach.
Erykah Badu
Not every artist is going to follow the well worn road music executives put in front of them. It would be helpful to have a coach who understands how to carve out their own path to success.
Snoop Dogg
I know what you’re thinking, but Snoop was recently a Mega Mentor on the show and his years of experience in the business offered unique, yet spot-on insights for the artists.
Missy Elliott
Brilliant writer and producer, captivating performer, and constantly has her eye on what’s next. Missy should be first on everyone’s list.
Jimmie Allen
If the show wants to bring in another country star, Jimmie Allen has fresh perspective on the genre. He’s also extremely charismatic.
Jimmy Jam
Prince, Michael, Janet, Mariah, New Edition. Jimmy Jam’s resume of hits speaks for itself.
Darius Rucker
Finding success across multiple decades in both rock and country makes Darius Rucker uniquely qualified to mentor aspiring singers.
Lizzo
It’s always good for these types of shows to have a coach/judge who is topping the charts and winning Grammys right now.
Diddy
Sean “Diddy” Combs certainly knows how to discover stars, but his penchant for brutal honesty might be too harsh for The Voice.
Babyface
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds has worked with every amazing singer in music. He understands how to get the best performance from an artist.
will.i.am
The Black Eyed Peas rapper is a longtime coach on The Voice UK. He likes to choose unique, unconventional artists, which is something the U.S. version needs more of.
Smokey Robinson
Come on people—it’s Smokey! I shouldn’t have to explain this one.
Solange
Another current artist who doesn’t bend to mainstream opinions. She could be a really cool addition to the show.
Questlove
I understand that Questlove is incredibly busy, but no one knows music like him. I’m actually shocked this hasn’t happened sooner.
DJ Khaled
Simply put, DJ Khaled is a hit factory. Who wouldn’t want to be mentored by a producer with his track record?
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste plays every instrument, is a bonafide musical genius, and owns every stage he steps on. His talent and personality is tailor-made for The Voice.
Mickey Guyton
Why not get the country perspective from a Black woman with a stunning and powerful voice?
Yolanda Adams
It seems crazy that the show is on Season 23 and it hasn’t had a gospel artist as a coach. And if we’re going strictly by voice, Yolanda Adams is at the top of the list.
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