Foreigner’s Kelly Hansen Announces Departure after 2 Decades

Foreigner Plans a Symbolic "Passing of The Torch" During Their 2025 Summer Tour

After two decades as the voice of Foreigner, lead singer Kelly Hansen will step down at the end of the band’s 2025 summer tour, making way for guitarist Luis Maldonado to take the helm. The announcement came during Foreigner’s performance on The Voice season finale on May 20, 2025, marking the end of an era for the iconic rock band behind hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Juke Box Hero.”

Hansen, who joined Foreigner in 2005 following the departure of original front man Lou Gramm, shared an emotional farewell with fans. “Being the voice of Foreigner has been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it’s time to pass the mic,” the 64-year-old singer said. He praised Maldonado, a multi-instrumentalist who joined the band in 2021, for his “voice, energy, and soul” to carry Foreigner’s legacy forward. The two performed a duet of “I Want to Know What Love Is” on The Voice, symbolizing the transition.

Mick Jones, Foreigner’s founding guitarist and songwriter, who has stepped back from live performances since 2022 due to Parkinson’s disease, expressed gratitude for Hansen’s contributions. “Kelly Hansen is one of the best frontmen in our business, and over the last twenty years, he has breathed new life into our songs,” Jones said in a press release. He endorsed Maldonado, who previously led vocals during Foreigner’s Latin America tour, as the right choice to “bring us home.”

The transition will unfold during Foreigner’s 2025 summer tour, with Hansen and Maldonado sharing the stage. While the band announced a farewell tour in 2022, initially set to conclude in 2024, recent statements suggest Foreigner will continue, with Jones declaring Maldonado “will soon lead the charge to new heights.” Upcoming performances include shows at the Erie County Fair on August 7, 2025, and the Turning Stone Event Center on September 20, 2025, with dates extending into March 2026.

Foreigner, formed in 1976, has seen multiple lineup changes over its nearly 50-year history. Hansen’s tenure revitalized the band, following Gramm’s exit in 2003 due to creative differences with Jones. Maldonado’s appointment signals a new chapter as Foreigner approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026.