‘The Voice’ Free Metaverse Experience Will Let Fans Audition for the Show, Compete in Virtual Music Battles, Win Prizes and More (EXCLUSIVE)

Mike Wass The road from boy band fame to solo stardom is notoriously bumpy, but Niall Horan made the transition look easy with 2017 debut album “Flicker.” Eschewing the pop of One Direction for earthier, singer-songwriter fare, the Irishman carved out his own artistic identity — one hit at a time. Horan, 29, then broadened his sonic horizons on “Heartbreak Weather,” but its release coincided with the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and promotion suddenly ground to a halt. With time on his hands for the first time in a decade, the pop star looked inward and started writing “The Show.” His third album, due June 9 via Capitol Records, finds Horan laying his feelings bare as he opens up about love and the rigors of adulthood. “If I made this album four years ago, I probably wouldn’t have written some of those songs,” the hitmaker muses. “The pandemic was a good time for me to reflect on everything that’s happened up until that point.”

Blake Shelton might be leaving behind, but the connections he made there carry on.The country singer announced on Thursday that he's teaming up with former producer and four-time Emmy Award-winning showrunner Lee Metzger to launch Lucky Horseshoe Productions.The pair has already collaborated on, an unscripted USA series where Shelton — along with Nikki Garcia and  host Carson Daly  -- opens up his famous Ole Red bar in Nashville to play fun drinking games with his famous friends. Now, they'll begin a new chapter of projects following Shelton's departure from after 23 seasons. «I'm excited to partner with my longtime friend and creative rainmaker Lee Metzger,» said Shelton in a press release about the new partnership.

She is The Voice! Gina Miles has officially been crowned as the NBC singing competition’s season 23 champion.

Blake Shelton had quite a night! After wrapping his final episode of NBC's on Tuesday, the longtime coach was feted with an epic after-party and a big surprise. An eyewitness tells ET that Gwen Stefani surprised her husband by making an appearance and giving him a kiss at the show's season 23 wrap party. The «Sweet Escape» singer wasn't able to attend the live taping due to a prior commitment out of town, but arrived just in time to share some of the celebratory night with Shelton. The couple socialized with friends and crew members before Stefani led Shelton to the dance floor around midnight.

he told “Access Hollywood” in January. He leaves the show as the winningest coach in its history with nine victories, and has appeared in a staggering 445 episodes. “These past 12 years I have made lifelong friends and memories,” Shelton wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday.

is getting ready to crown its season 23 champion!The Top 5 singers took the stage Monday night for one last chance to prove to America why they should be the latest winner of the NBC singing competition. Then on Tuesday's results show, each singer joined their coach for a special duet.For departing Blake Shelton, who has the advantage in his final season with two singers left, there's country girl Grace West and genre-bending crooner NOIVAS.

Blake Shelton's final episode of was a star-studded affair!The tributes to the longtime coach kept coming through the night on Tuesday's season 23 finale, but no moment was more poignant than when the stage was flooded with former Team Blake singers and winners, paying tribute to the Cowboy with a performance of Green Day's «Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).»Danielle Bradbery, who won season 4 on Team Blake, told ET's Cassie DiLaura backstage that she had «all the emotions» about returning for the meaningful night.«We did rehearsals and stuff, and just being in there, it's been so long and I was like, 'Oh my god, it's all coming back!'» she shared of returning to the stage. "[Blake] is He is the king of the show… It is very special, the fact that I'm here.

Kelly Clarkson is hoping for another victory on and she's pulling out all the stops!The coach, singer and daytime host took the stage with her remaining member of Team Kelly, soulful crooner D. Smooth, during Tuesday's season 23 finale live results show, and the pair brought the house down with their rendition of «SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK» by Joji.«I get very excited about this,» Kelly said of the performance.

Blake Shelton is looking back on his 23 seasons as a coach on Shelton took to Instagram Tuesday ahead of his final episode to reflect on his time on the show, from being one of the original coaches when the singing competition series first premiered in 2011, to taking home nine — hopefully 10 after tonight — wins, and coaching alongside his wife, Gwen Stefani.«Can't believe it's been 23 seasons of @nbcthevoice… and especially can't believe today is my final episode. It's bittersweet.

Blake Shelton is saying goodbye to after 23 seasons, 12 years, and a record-setting nine wins — but the show must go on!NBC announced plans for the upcoming 24th season of the singing competition last week, making it official that Reba McEntire will be taking over Blake's coveted spinning chair on the coaches' panel.Reba will be joined by returning coaches Gwen Stefani, John Legend and Niall Horan for the upcoming season, set to premiere this fall. fans don't yet have full details about the format of season 24 — we'll have to wait and see if season 23's brand-new Playoff Pass continues to be part of the competition.

is coming to an end — will he score one more victory before he says goodbye to the NBC singing competition?The two-night season 23 finale kicks off on Monday, as the Top 5 performers -- Sorelle, Grace West, Gina Miles, NOIVAS and D. Smooth — will take the stage for one last chance to win America's vote!Coaches Blake, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan are able to offer critiques during the live shows, but the season 23 winner will be determined by the viewers.

is getting ready to crown its season 23 champion!The Top 5 singers are taking the stage Monday night for one last chance to prove to America why they should be the latest winner of the NBC singing competition.For departing Blake Shelton, who has the advantage in his final season with two singers left, there's country girl Grace West and genre-bending crooner NOIVAS. Kelly Clarkson is represented in the final by the soulful D.

is getting ready to crown its season 23 champion!The Top 5 singers are taking the stage Monday night for one last chance to prove to America why they should be the latest winner of the NBC singing competition.For departing Blake Shelton, who has the advantage in his final season with two singers left, there's country girl Grace West and genre-bending crooner NOIVAS. Kelly Clarkson is represented in the final by the soulful D.

Blake Shelton is ready to kick back and enjoy some time off!ET's Cassie DiLaura spoke with the country star backstage on night one of season 23 finale on Monday, where he opened up about his plans to relax with his wife, Gwen Stefani, her three sons and the rest of his family after saying goodbye to the singing competition.«I want to finally have the opportunity to say yes to more stuff in my personal life,» he shared, «and not say, 'Let me check,' or just flat-out no.»Thankfully, Blake has family close by as he prepares for his send-off from Gwen and her boys — Kingston, 16, Zuma, 14, and Apollo, 9 — were on hand to celebrate Blake receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier this month, though the country singer joked that he's more than ready to stop celebrating himself.«I've had enough parties thrown for me in the last few weeks,» he shared. "[Gwen] goes, 'We're just celebrating you, you're good right?' Yeah, I'm good.

The Voice‘s two-part finale begins tonight at 8pm ET on NBC and a huge celebration is planned.

is coming to an end — will he score one more victory before he says goodbye to the NBC singing competition?The two-night season 23 finale kicks off on Monday, as the Top 5 performers -- Sorelle, Grace West, Gina Miles, NOIVAS and D. Smooth — will take the stage for one last chance to win America's vote!Coaches Blake, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan are able to offer critiques during the live shows, but the season 23 winner will be determined by the viewers.

Members of One Direction have reportedly met up to record new music for the first time in seven years. The record-breaking boy bands called it quits in 2015, five years after shooting to fame on The X Factor. Originally Louis Tomlinson, 31, Niall Horan, 29, Harry Styles, 29, Liam Payne, 29, and Zayn Malik, 30, all auditioned as solo artists on the singing competition, but it was the brains of Simon Cowell that saw their potential as a group.

is coming to an end — will he score one more victory before he says goodbye to the NBC singing competition?Monday night sees the Top 8 performers take the stage in the season 23 semifinals, and for the first time all season, it's up to viewers to vote live for same-night results!Coaches Blake, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan are able to offer critiques during the live shows, but the final competitors will be determined by the viewers. Following the semifinal performances, voting will be open to see which singers make it to next week's finale, with the Top 5 announced at the end of the show.Fans can vote for their favorite artist, starting Monday night at 5 p.m.

It's Blake Shelton's last season on — and he's hoping to go out with a big win!The country star got one step closer to his 10th victory on Monday, as his last-ever country singer, 19-year-old Grace West, took the stage with a powerful rendition of "'Til I Can Make It On My Own" by Tammy Wynette, a first for the show.«Unbelievable,» Blake praised. «There's a reason that no one's ever done that song on this show.

Reba McEntire couldn't be more excited to be officially joining  as a season 24 coach!NBC announced on Monday that the country music legend will officially be stepping in for departing coach Blake Shelton for the next season of the long-running singing competition, set to premiere this fall.Reba will draw from her iconic career as she shares her expertise with hopeful up-and-comers, joining veteran coach John Legend and returning coaches Niall Horan and Gwen Stefani.The news comes after Reba served as the celebrity Mega Mentor for season 23, advising Blake Shelton and his fellow coaches -- Kelly Clarkson and newcomers Niall and Chance the Rapper  -- and their team members ahead of the Knockout Rounds. ET's Cassie DiLaura spoke with Reba at live semifinals on Monday night, where the singer and actress shared why now was the «perfect» time for her to join the show — after turning it down when was first in development in 2011.«The first time I ever heard of I saw the tape from Holland's [version of the show],» she recalled. «They asked me to do it, and I turned it down.»«But I think timing is everything,» Reba added.