Kelly Hansen announced on May 20, 2025, that he would leave Foreigner after the summer, naming guitarist Luis Maldonado as the band’s next lead singer. The announcement came during Foreigner’s appearance on the season 27 finale of NBC’s The Voice; it was a planned handoff, not an immediate exit during the broadcast.
When did Kelly Hansen announce he was leaving Foreigner?
Hansen made the announcement during Foreigner’s performance on the season 27 finale of The Voice on May 20, 2025. As The Independent reported the following day, Hansen said: “After 20 magical years fronting this band, this will be my last year with Foreigner.”
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Hansen joined Foreigner in 2005, taking over the lead-vocal role after original singer Lou Gramm. His reference to 20 years described his tenure fronting the band; it was not a separate announcement that he was leaving during the televised performance.
Who is taking Kelly Hansen’s place?
Hansen introduced Luis Maldonado, already a guitarist in Foreigner, as his successor. He told viewers: “At the end of this summer, a new, great voice will sing these songs for you: my friend, Luis Maldonado.” The remarks were reported contemporaneously by The Independent.
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The wording set out a transition after the 2025 summer period. A later Louder interview with Jeff Pilson in 2026 describes Maldonado as Foreigner’s lead singer after Hansen’s departure, confirming the succession. It does not identify the exact first show Maldonado performed in that role.
Why did Hansen leave Foreigner?
The public announcement framed the change as “passing the torch.” Hansen called Maldonado his friend and presented him as the voice who would carry the songs forward. The available reports do not establish a more specific personal, health, contractual, or conflict-related reason, so attributing the departure to one would go beyond what has been reported.
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Foreigner’s vocal transition at a glance
| Singer | Role in the transition | Timing established by the sources |
|---|---|---|
| Lou Gramm | Original singer; Hansen succeeded him as lead singer. | Hansen joined Foreigner in 2005, according to The Independent. |
| Kelly Hansen | Fronted Foreigner before announcing his departure and naming Maldonado as successor. | Joined in 2005; announced his exit on May 20, 2025, with the handoff planned after the summer, according to The Independent and the May 21, 2025 press-release republication. |
| Luis Maldonado | Foreigner guitarist introduced by Hansen as the next singer; later described as lead singer after Hansen. | Introduced as successor in May 2025; exact first show in the lead-vocal role is not stated. Later status is described in a 2026 Louder interview. |
What the announcement does—and does not—establish
Hansen’s announcement gives a clear succession plan: he would finish his time fronting Foreigner after the summer period in 2025, and Maldonado would sing the songs next. Later coverage confirms Maldonado’s lead-singer status. The sources establish neither an exact first performance date for him in that role nor a more detailed explanation for Hansen’s departure.
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