Blake Shelton Reunites with Ex-Bandmate After 25 Years on ‘The Voice,’ Dubs It a ‘Full-Circle Moment’

Blake Shelton reunited with an old friend during the Season 20 premiere of NBC’s The Voice on Monday evening (March…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

March 1, 2021

8:38 pm

Pete Mroz, Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton reunited with an old friend during the Season 20 premiere of NBC’s The Voice on Monday evening (March 1).

The Voice contestant Pete Mroz, 45, took the stage to perform a cover of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” and earned a chair turn from Shelton and John Legend.

“I haven’t seen this guy in 25 years,” Shelton exclaimed.

It was then revealed that Shelton and Mroz were previously members of a band called The Young Riders in Nashville. According to Mroz, Shelton stole his bass player when he exited the group.

Talk about a full circle moment @pete_mroz! I’m excited to be working with you again man!! #TeamBlake #TheVoice pic.twitter.com/96UsSf40kw

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) March 2, 2021

Coach Nick Jonas proceeded to convince Mroz to join Team Legend as payback, however, Mroz chose to join his old friend on Team Blake.

Mroz and Shelton both dubbed it a “full-circle moment.”

Prior to taking the stage, Mroz revealed he was a Nashville resident who spent years writing songs in Nashville and that he was once convinced he was the “next Garth Brooks.” Mroz has written and recorded five albums and describes himself as “a father, husband, lover of music, lover of people, songwriter, guitar player, photographer, videographer, businessman and a bluesman.”

As for his music and preferred genre, Mroz says, “It starts with my voice and guitar, then we see where it takes us! Blues, Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriter … if that’s the label then I wear it proudly!”

The Voice returns each Monday at 8/7 c and Tuesday at 9/8 c on NBC.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.