The Boot (June 15th 2012)

Blake Shelton: ‘The Voice’ third season is ‘too much’ too soon

Blake Shelton will once again be part of NBC's "The Voice," when the show returns for its third season later this year. The country superstar says he and his fellow mentors have agreed to return, but he's urging network executives to consider the ramifications of doing two seasons a year, since taping a third season so soon after the second puts a serious crimp in the tour schedules of himself, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green.

"At some point something's got to give," Blake said during a press conference at last week's CMA Music Festival. "I've been very vocal with the network and Mark Burnett's production company that I don't like it. They need to think about what the [taping schedule] means to all of us."

"The Voice" will begin taping again soon, so Blake will head for the West Coast while his wife, Miranda Lambert, continues to tour.

"I love doing it," Blake explained, "and I hope to continue doing it forever. But they have to work with me so I can also tour. I just think taping two seasons a year is too much. The four of us cannot remain viable artists if we're taping back-to-back seasons of the show."

In spite of the challenge, Blake says he's committed to the upcoming season. "I look forward to it and I love doing it. I can't imagine not being a part of 'The Voice.'"

Blake's latest single, "Over," is at No. 19 on Billboard's Country Songs chart this week, marking its first week in the Top 20. It's the fourth single from Red River Blue.