Five months after quitting NBC's "The Voice," former coach Cee-Lo Green is opening up about his departure from the singing competition.
During an interview with Us Weekly entertainment director Ian Drew, the "F-K You" singer said that doing the NBC series become too tiring and the position became too much like a job. However, the 39-year-old singer said he left the show with good memories .
"It easily and quickly became a job," Cee-Lo said in an interview. "Very, very obligating ...Taxing and tiring ...I still tip my hat to Adam [Levine] and Blake [Shelton] and those guys who continuously do it, but I think I ran my course there just naturally."
He added: "Amicably, we parted ways. I've got some very great memories there. It really has everything to do with me having the leverage to go elsewhere and be a success as well."
At the time of his departure, Green said his busy schedule and involvement in several other projects rendered him not able to commit to the show. He began the NBC series as one of the original coaches, but after four seasons the singer revealed that he would not be returning and was temporarily replaced by Usher and Shakira.
Green also revealed to Us Weekly that fellow coach Adam Levine encouraged him to get involved in the show in April 2011. The two were reportedly friends prior to joining "The Voice".
"He called and said, 'Hey man, there's this new show 'The Voice' and I don't really know what it's going to be about, and I don't really want to do any more kind of music shows - do you think it's cool? If you do it, I'll do it. If you don't do it, I won't do it,'" Green explained. "And I was like, well, just judging from the premise, the blind auditions It's something that everybody agrees is just really original. It had a great new spin."
Season seven of "The Voice" will include original mentors Levine and Blake Shelton, as well as newcomers Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani. Green told the new judges to pace themselves for the upcoming season.
"Just kind of pace yourself," he said. "Find a happy space... Just find it enjoyable, and as long as you're passionate about discovering new talent and really helping people and encouraging them to be themselves and live out loud and follow their dreams, then you should have no problem."
