After 23 seasons on the show, it was announced that country music singer Blake Shelton is leaving his position as a judge on The Voice — but, for his last season, two of television’s most famous chairs will be taken by no other than Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper. Yes, you read that right: Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper will be judges on The Voice in 2023.
Breaking the news on a sentimental Instagram post, Shelton thanked his “12 years of chair turns” and said his goodbyes to the crew, fans and fellow judges, which he said changed his life in every way for the better. But not all are farewells: next season’s coaches lineup shows that Kelly Clarkson will be back after a one-season hiatus, and Horan and Chance the Rapper will make their debut on the series. It’s the first time The Voice will be welcoming more than one new mentor at a time.
“I’m thrilled to join The Voice as a coach for the next season,” the Grammy-winner Chance said in a statement to NBC Insider. “I’m excited to help other artists get to the next level and make the most of this life-changing experience.”
On the other hand, “Slow Hands” singer Horan said that he is also excited to join the season as a mentor: “I’m looking forward to meeting and mentoring the new crop of talent while we battle it out with the other teams,” he said in a statement to NBC Insider.
Horan’s fans are also calling this a full-circle moment for him: Being a former One Direction member, Horan started out his music career on the British competition singing show The X-Factor.
The progression from auditioner to coach seems natural, though: In a tweet, Horan’s former bandmate, Louis Tomlinson — who was also an X-Factor judge in the seventh season of the show — voiced his support for the decision, adding that “he’ll be great at that.” “I haven’t [watched the show] either, but I’ll watch it if here’s there,” he continued in a tweet.
And the mini-1D reunion has, of course, awakened the Directioners. The memes of “me auditioning for The Voice even though I can’t sing” have also been plenty: From clips of Trisha Paytas’ appearance on America’s Got Talent down to Millie Bobby Brown’s iconic wooh from her “Imagine” cover, fans seem more than ready to see Niall onscreen — or even meet him, who knows? Nothing’s off limits. Here’s how fans are handling the news.