Singer Blake Shelton
Singer Blake Shelton performs on NBC's ''Today'' show in New York July 8, 2011. Reuters

Country star Blake Shelton is not going to let anyone bully one of his contestants. The “Voice” judge sounded off on Twitter after a naysayer called out Holly Tucker when she was sent home.

Joey Guerra, music critic for the Houston Chronicle, had a nasty comment for Tucker when she was sent home from the reality singing competition. He tweeted: "#TheVoice sends one singer back to Texas. Don't worry, it's not the one we care about."

Shelton swiftly responded to the post, calling the writer “chicken s**t” and added, “It's people like you @joeyguerra that make me sick ... Holly is not only a talented singer but a great person that's simply chasing a dream.”

The celebrity judge unleashed a tirade of five tweets before he realized his words toward Guerra might have been harsh. Still standing by his original posts, he apologized but maintained critics shouldn’t put down people who are following their hearts.

"I'm sorry for going off ya'll ... But I am passionate about encouraging young people to follow their dreams.. We GOOD people don't need hate."

Tucker appreciated her former coach being defensive, telling MTV News: "It means the world to see Blake was there to rush to my defense,” she said about Shelton standing up for her. “You know, he's my coach. I'll always think of him that way. He's kind of like a father figure, in a way, just that he wants to protect us. He wants the best for us. He wants to see us succeed."

Even though it was hard for Tucker to leave the show, she told the music news station it "helped me loosen up a little bit." And as for Guerra’s harsh words she’s not letting them get to her. She told MTV News, "It's just fuel for my fire. It's OK to have an opinion, like not everybody's going to like what I do. I understand that, but it's my motivation. It's what keeps me going.”

Check out “The Voice” on NBC Monday at 8/7c to see the final five compete.