Advertisement

Adam Levine leaves 'The Voice' after 16 seasons: 'What an amazing ride'

By Annie Martin
Adam Levine (L), pictured with Behati Prinsloo, is leaving "The Voice" after 16 seasons. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
1 of 3 | Adam Levine (L), pictured with Behati Prinsloo, is leaving "The Voice" after 16 seasons. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

May 24 (UPI) -- The Voice coach Adam Levine is leaving the NBC reality competition after 16 seasons.

The 40-year-old singer and television personality reflected and gave thanks in an Instagram post Friday following news Gwen Stefani will replace him as coach in Season 17.

Advertisement

"About 8 years ago, Mark Burnett convinced us to sign for this show where you sit in a big red chair with your back turned away from the singers on the stage. First thank you must go to Mark," Levine wrote. "It went on to be a life shaping experience that will be close to my heart forever."

"Thank you NBC for signing me up. I am truly honored to have been a part of something I'll always cherish for the rest of my life," he added. "Thank you to every single coach I ever sat in those chairs with. That is shared experience that is singularly ours. We have that for life."

Advertisement

The Maroon 5 frontman gave a special shoutout to Blake Shelton, his fellow coach and friendly rival on the show.

"I couldn't hide my love for you if I tried. Seriously. I tried. Can't do it. 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," he gushed.

Levine ended by thanking The Voice fans and his late manager, Jordan Feldstein.

"And lastly, to all of the loyal voice fans, there's literally no show without you guys. For me, it was time to move on. Your support has meant EVERYTHING," the star said.

"And Lastly, I'd like to thank my manager Jordan for convincing me to take that meeting. What an amazing ride. Thank you all so much," he concluded.

Shelton and fellow coach Kelly Clarkson were among those to react to Levine's departure online.

"Having a hard time wrapping my head around @adamlevine not being at @NBCTheVoice anymore. After 16 seasons that changed both ours lives. I only found out about this yesterday and it hasn't set in on me yet. Gonna miss working with that idiot," Shelton wrote on Twitter.

"Found out last night about @adamlevine leaving The Voice & while I get that he's been doing the show 4 a while & wants to step away, it will be weird showing up 4 work & he's not there," Clarkson added. "To start an amazing show from the ground up is a big deal!"

The Voice host Carson Daly had announced Levine's departure during Friday's episode of Today.

"After 16 seasons, Adam Levine, our beloved coach and friend, has decided to leave The Voice," Daly said.

"Adam was one of the original coaches that launched the show, winning the competition three times and inspiring many of the artists he worked so closely with," he added. "He'll always be a cherished member of The Voice family."

Advertisement

Gwen Stefani will join Shelton, Clarkson and John Legend as a coach in Season 17. Stefani, who is dating Shelton, previously served as coach in Seasons 7, 9 and 12.

Levine won The Voice three times -- with Javier Colon in Season 1, Tessanne Chin in Season 5 and Jordan Smith in Season 9. Legend, a first-time coach, and Maelyn Jarmon won Season 16 this week.

Levine is the frontman of the pop rock band Maroon 5, which released its sixth studio album, Red Pill Blues, in November 2017. He is parent to two daughters, Dusty Rose and Gio Grace, with his wife, model Behati Prinsloo.

Latest Headlines