NBC’s hit singing competition “The Voice” is back for its 2025 season, but not all fans are happy with the coaching lineup. While some are excited about Adam Levine’s return, others are disappointed—with some stating they may stop watching altogether.
A disgruntled user reacts to Adam Levine’s return on “The Voice” online, dated February 4, 2025 | Source: Facebook/NBCTheVoice
One user shared their frustration, “Watched it, but not real happy with judge choices this year. Sad. I was looking forward to it starting back up. Disappointed [sic]! !”
Some viewers expressed disappointment over the absence of former coaches, with one user commenting, “Just not the same without the previous coaches Miss Gwen, Reba, Blake, Snoop and more Not a fan of Adam [sic].”
However, not all reactions were negative. One fan celebrated Levine’s return, “I AM SOOOOOO GLAD Adam is back.. They are all amazing but Adam has always been a favorite..”
Others brought up past criticisms of Levine’s coaching style. One user recalled a controversial moment from a previous season, “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 team member that was sick and didn’t perform that night. Didn’t pan out 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 [sic].”
Adam Levine is pictured on “The Voice” season 16, dated May 12, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Despite the mixed reactions, some fans remained excited about the new season. One user wrote, “Sooo good ! And am so glad Adam is back !!! Love me some Maroon 5 [sic]!!!!”
In a recent interview with People, Levine, 45, opened up about why now was the right time for his 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 had initially stepped away from “The Voice” after season 16, explaining that he needed a break from being on television.
He described his years on the show as an “interesting and beautiful thing” but admitted that working on “The Voice” non-stop for nearly a decade led to exhaustion. “Doing it for so long, so consistently, for almost eight or nine years of my life, you can definitely start to get burnt,” he noted.
Adam Levine is seen on “The Voice” season 16, dated January 20, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
During his time away, the Maroon 5 frontman refocused on his music and personal life. “I did it for this really long period of time so I started to feel like I was kind of getting away from things that matter to me the most, like making music and playing music,” he explained.
Taking a break allowed him to slow down and appreciate other aspects of his life. “It was so nice to have one job,” he reflected, adding that he is now ready to welcome back “a huge part of my life.”
Adam Levine performs onstage during Maroon 5 live in concert at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on July 3, 2024, in Wantagh, New York | Source: Getty Images
Levine also credited his fellow coaches—Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé, and John Legend—for making his return feel right. “I got lucky because I got these guys,” he said, expressing enthusiasm for working alongside them.
Now that he is back, Levine shared that his approach to the show has evolved. “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 added.
He emphasized that the real purpose of the show is to mentor aspiring artists, “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 competitiveness is still a part of “The Voice,” he believes his primary role is to guide and support contestants. “I think that’s really valuable for the people on the show that are needing that experience, or that push, that help. And that’s what I think we’re there for,” explained the pop star.
Levine’s return was officially announced in June 2024. He was an original coach when “The Voice” premiered in 2011 alongside Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and CeeLo Green. He remained on the show for 16 seasons until his departure in 2019, later making guest appearances before his full-time return in season 27.
Carson Daly, Cee-Lo, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton at the “The Voice” Press Junket at Sony Pictures Studios on October 28, 2011, in Culver City, California | Source: Getty Images
Back in October 2019, Levine appeared on “The Howard Stern Show” and explained the reason behind his original exit from “The Voice.”
“The real answer is that I was ready to not be doing it anymore… for a little bit,” he admitted. He described the decision as something that happened naturally, “For better or worse, the moment in which we decided to walk away felt really good. This was the right time for me to go.”
Levine had been juggling multiple commitments, including his music career with Maroon 5, for nearly a decade. “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.
However, 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,” Levine added.
His break from the show allowed him to focus on his family while continuing his music career. Now, six years after leaving, Levine is stepping back into the red chair with a new outlook and renewed energy.
Season 27 of “The Voice” premiered on Monday, February 3, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. While reactions to Levine’s return have been mixed, there is no doubt that his comeback is one of the most talked-about moments of the new season.
