After 20 years of fronting Foreigner, Kelly Hansen has officially stepped down. He has since handed the mic to guitarist and now-lead vocalist Luis Maldonado.
The announcement was made live on the season finale of The Voice. Because apparently even classic rock bands need a primetime farewell these days.
“This will be my last year with Foreigner,” Hansen told the audience. “Luis has the voice, the energy, and the soul to carry these songs into the future.” A classy exit from a frontman who spent two decades keeping a legacy alive.
Hansen took over in 2005 from original vocalist Lou Gramm, a tough gig by anyone’s standards, and helped reboot the band for a new era. Can’t Slow Down in 2009 was their first album in 15 years, and while the Gramm-era hits will always dominate setlists, Hansen’s tenure brought energy, consistency, and longevity that most legacy bands would kill for.
Luis Maldonado — previously Foreigner’s guitarist — has already tested the waters as frontman, covering shows in South America and, reportedly, smashing it. Now, it’s official. Maldonado called the role an honour, saying he’s ready to “bring [his] heart to every performance.” No pressure, mate.
Mick Jones, the band’s founding guitarist and last remaining original member, is no longer touring due to Parkinson’s but gave his full blessing, calling Hansen “one of the best frontmen in the business.” High praise from a guy who built the blueprint.
It’s worth noting that Hansen had already missed recent tour stops in Canada, Mexico, and South America, where Maldonado and Broadway singer Geordie Brown stepped in. Now it’s clear this was the long goodbye.
Foreigner are in the middle of their farewell tour, and this summer will be Hansen’s final run. No new studio material has dropped since Can’t Slow Down, but the legacy is firmly intact — a band that made arena rock feel personal, with a frontman who never phoned it in.
