Here's the Real Reason Adam Levine Left 'The Voice'

From The Pioneer Woman

Longtime fans of The Voice were shocked when Adam Levine announced he was leaving the NBC reality show in May 2019. The veteran coach had been part of the singing competition for 16 seasons, and it seemed impossible to imagine anyone else sitting in his big red chair.

Adam first shared the news with an emotional post on Instagram that paid tribute to his "life-shaping experience" on The Voice.

"After the first day of shooting, I sat there, stunned. I said to myself, 'Theres some magic here. Something is definitely happening,'" he wrote. "I am truly honored to have been a part of something I’ll always cherish for the rest of my life."

While the Maroon 5 singer said that he felt "it was time to move on" from The Voice, he did not offer any further explanation about his exit. After Gwen Stefani stepped in as his replacement, fans were left wondering about the real reason Adam left—and whether he would ever return.

Read on for all the details we have about Adam's departure from The Voice.

Why did Adam Levine leave "The Voice"?

There has been plenty of speculation over the years about Adam's decision to leave The Voice. TVLine reported that his exit stemmed from drama that took place during the season 16 semifinals, after Adam's entire team was eliminated. However, neither the former coach nor NBC ever confirmed those claims.

In October 2019, Adam finally shared the real motivation behind his departure: His family. During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the father of two said that leaving The Voice allowed him to focus on his wife and children.

"I was just constantly working for so many years—very lucky, very fortunate, very blessed and all that—but to just be able to stop in this moment to spend time with my new young family and just have the greatest time ever," he explained. "Now I'm just, like, a stay-at-home dad."

Will Adam come back to "The Voice"?

It doesn't seem likely. During that same interview with Ellen, Adam explained that while he misses the show, he doesn't miss all the time and energy it took to produce.

"I really do miss it. I love the people that I met and worked with, and obviously we all know how I feel about Blake," Adam said, referencing his love-hate relationship with coach Blake Shelton. "I do miss it but I also don't miss how much I had to work."

The singer doubled down on that statement in December 2020 during an Instagram Q&A with fans. When one follower asked if he would ever come back to the show, Adam's response was clear: "No thank you?"

Are Blake and Adam still friends?

Of course! Adam and Blake are known for their long-standing bromance, and their friendship didn't end when they stopped working together on The Voice. In fact, a large portion of Adam's exit announcement was dedicated to Blake alone.

"I couldn’t hide my love for [Blake] if I tried. Seriously. I tried. Can't do it," Adam wrote. "Our friendship is and always will be one for the books. Whatever this whole surreal experience was, Im just happy I got to experience it with you. You’re my brother for life."

Did you hear that? Brothers for life! (Watch their hilarious Super Bowl commercial if you want proof—and a good laugh. 😂)