Blake Shelton jokes Adam Levine was fired because of Kelly Clarkson on 'The Voice'

During the final night of the blind auditions on The Voice Monday, Blake Shelton, who the rest of the judges have all agreed is a liar, continued to do what he does best while fighting for 21-year-old contestant Keegan Ferrell, who sounded very similar to Blake's old Voice nemesis, Adam Levine, while singing Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved."

After Levine abruptly and mysteriously left The Voice two years ago, Kelly Clarkson ended up filling Levine's chair of 16 seasons and, in turn, also filled the role of Shelton's new rival. And on Monday night, Shelton joked, "I want you to look for just a second at this coaching panel. Take note at who's missing and who's in that chair. Now, I'm not saying that Kelly Clarkson got Adam fired." However, that's exactly what the country singer was saying.

"If Maroon 5 inspires you, I don't know that I would choose a coach that is their archnemesis," Shelton later added, to which Clarkson responded, "Oh, my God. We toured together!" "And then you got him fired," Shelton added.

Bizarrely, somehow Shelton playing the Levine card actually worked -- even though Clarkson pointed out to Ferrell, “I know, love, and breathe pop music; I have for like, 20 years.” When later asked why Ferrell would reject the more obvious team and instead sign up with country singer Blake, Ferrell simply explained, “He just knows how to bring artists to the next level.”

Video Transcript

BLAKE SHELTON: I want you to look for just a second at this coaching panel. Take note at who's missing and who's in that chair. Now, I'm not saying that Kelly Clarkson got Adam fired--

KELLY CLARKSON: Because I didn't!

[LAUGHTER]

BLAKE SHELTON: But--

- During the final night of the blind auditions on "The Voice" Monday, Blake Shelton, who the rest of the judges have all agreed is a liar, continued to do what he does best while fighting for 21-year-old contestant Keegan Ferrell, who sounded very similar to Blake's old "Voice" nemesis, Adam Levine.

KEEGAN FERRELL: (SINGING) I drove for miles and miles, and wound up at your door.

[CHEERING]

KELLY CLARKSON: Whoo!

KEEGAN FERRELL: (SINGING) I've had you so many times, but somehow I want more.

- After the Maroon 5 frontman abruptly and mysteriously left "The Voice" two years ago, Kelly Clarkson ended up filling Adam's chair of 16 seasons, and in turn, also filled the spot of Blake's new rival.

BLAKE SHELTON: If Maroon 5 inspires you, I don't know that I would choose a coach that is their arch-nemesis.

KELLY CLARKSON: Oh, my God, we toured together! [LAUGHTER]

BLAKE SHELTON: And then you got him fired.

KELLY CLARKSON: I did not! That is a lie.

BLAKE SHELTON: I was afraid to turn around. I don't want to get fired.

[LAUGHTER]

I want her to get fired for you, Keegan.

- Somehow the country singer's argument worked because, in the end, Keegan, who is a pop singer, chose Team Blake, which was a surprising choice but viewers at home loved it.

CARSON DALY: Why'd you pick Blake over Kelly?

KEEGAN FERRELL: He just knows how to bring artists to the next level. So I'm excited to be on his team.

CARSON DALY: Welcome to the show, man.

KEEGAN FERRELL: Thank you very much, Carson.

CARSON DALY: Congratulations.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[LAUGHTER]