NBC’s hit singing competition “The Voice” is back with its 2025 season, but this time, the buzz isn’t just about the contestants—it’s about the coaches. A surprising coaching choice has set social media on fire, with fans voicing strong opinions on the new lineup.
While some are thrilled about Adam Levine’s return to the red chair, others are less than pleased. Some longtime viewers even claim they might stop watching the show entirely.
One disappointed fan vented online, writing, “Watched it, but not real happy with judge choices this year. Sad. I was looking forward to it starting back up. Disappointed!”
Many viewers expressed frustration over the absence of former coaches like Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, and Gwen Stefani. One user wrote, “Just not the same without the previous coaches. Miss Gwen, Reba, Blake, Snoop, and more. Not a fan of Adam.”
However, not everyone was upset. Some fans were ecstatic to see Levine back in action. One excited viewer shared, “I AM SOOOOOO GLAD Adam is back! They are all amazing, but Adam has always been a favorite!”
Despite the enthusiasm from some fans, others brought up Levine’s past controversies on the show. One user recalled a moment that made them lose respect for the Maroon 5 frontman: “Any contestant with common sense would stay away from picking Adam.
My jaw dropped when he told one of his team members that ‘he had to support his girl’—a contestant who was sick and couldn’t perform that night. It didn’t end well because she got sent home! But to tell the audience to basically vote for one team member over another…
I lost all respect for Adam.”
Despite mixed reactions, anticipation for the new season remains high. One enthusiastic fan cheered, “Sooo good! And I’m so glad Adam is back! Love me some Maroon 5!”
Adam Levine Opens Up About His Return
In a recent interview, Levine, 45, explained why now felt like the right time to return to “The Voice.”
“I honestly feel like the stars aligned,” he said. “It was one of those moments where we started talking about it, and it felt right… and it hadn’t felt right until now.”
Levine originally stepped away from the show after Season 16, admitting that he needed a break from television. Reflecting on his years as a coach, he described the experience as “an interesting and beautiful thing” but admitted that the nonstop schedule left him exhausted.
“Doing it for so long, so consistently, for almost eight or nine years of my life—you can definitely start to get burnt out,” he shared.
During his time away, Levine focused on music and his personal life. “I did it for this really long period of time, and I started to feel like I was getting away from the things that matter to me the most—like making music and playing music,” he explained.
The break gave him a chance to slow down and appreciate life outside of the show. “It was so nice to have one job,” he said, adding that he now feels ready to return to what he calls “a huge part of my life.”
Levine credited his fellow coaches—Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé, and John Legend—for making his comeback feel right. “I got lucky because I got these guys,” he said, expressing his excitement about working alongside them.
A New Perspective on “The Voice”
Now that he’s back, Levine shared that his outlook on the show has changed.
“I don’t really see it as a competition anymore, and I know they’re not going to like that, but that’s not what it is,” he admitted.
He explained that, for him, “The Voice” is more about mentorship than rivalry. “It’s an opportunity for us to share our experiences with the people on the show. And it always has been that.”
While he acknowledged that competition is still a part of the show, Levine believes that guiding and supporting the contestants is the real goal. “I think that’s really valuable for the people on the show that need that experience, that push, that help. And that’s what I think we’re there for.”
The Journey to His Return
Levine’s return to “The Voice” was officially announced in June 2024. He was one of the original coaches when the show premiered in 2011, alongside Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and CeeLo Green. He remained a coach for 16 seasons before stepping away in 2019. Though he made guest appearances in the following years, Season 27 marks his full-time return.
In an October 2019 interview on “The Howard Stern Show,” Levine opened up about why he left in the first place.
“The real answer is that I was ready to not be doing it anymore… for a little bit,” he said. “For better or worse, the moment we decided to walk away felt really good. This was the right time for me to go.”
Juggling his commitments to “The Voice” and Maroon 5 for nearly a decade took its toll. “For eight-and-a-half years, I was so busy—[I] had the band, [I] had ‘The Voice.’ I was beyond fortunate to go through all of it because it was a life-altering experience being on that show,” he shared.
But as his personal life changed, so did his priorities. “Then it got to the point where I got married, I had two kids, and I wanted to spend time with them,” he added.
Now, six years after his departure, Levine is stepping back into the red chair with a fresh mindset and renewed energy.
Season 27 of “The Voice” premiered on Monday, February 3, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. While opinions on Levine’s return are divided, there’s no doubt that his comeback is one of the most talked-about moments of the season.
