CeeLo Green Quits The Voice After Four Seasons: "I'm Not Coming Back"

"I just don't want to wear out my welcome there, you know what I'm saying?" mentor reveals on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

By Zach Johnson Feb 19, 2014 12:04 PMTags
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Say it ain't so!

During Wednesday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, CeeLo Green announced that he has decided to leave The Voice after four seasons. He served as a mentor during Seasons 1-3 and Season 5.

"I'm going to continue my relationship with NBC. I have a television show development deal with them and hopefully some other talk show opportunities for later in the year," said 39-year-old Green, a five-time Grammy Award winner. "But yeah, I'm going to miss The Voice, too. I'm not coming back, guys."

"Oh, you're not coming back at all?" a stunned Ellen DeGeneres asked.

"I'm not coming back at all," said Green, who is planning a spring/summer tour with Lionel Richie. "I just don't want to wear out my welcome there, you know what I'm saying? I have so many other things that I want to do. I haven't released an album in four years. I'm almost done with my album."

"We'll appreciate the music but we'll miss you on The Voice," DeGeneres told her guest. "I had no idea. I just thought you were taking a leave. But you're going to be amazing at anything you do."

Green then admitted, "I didn't mean to drop the bomb today."

The "F--k You" singer first appeared on The Voice with fellow mentors Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton in 2011. Like Aguilera, Green sat out Seasons 4 and 6, with Shakira and Usher taking their spots in the swivel chairs. Since the show's U.S. premiere, five people have won the competition: Javier Colon, Jermaine Paul, Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery and Tessanne Chin. The sixth season of The Voice kicks off Monday, Feb. 24.

(E! and The Voice are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)