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 of his Voice departure back in 2019 with an emotional post on Instagram that paid tribute to his "life-shaping experience" on the show.

"After the first day of shooting, I sat there, stunned. I said to myself, 'There's 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.

Well, now we have our answer! In an exciting twist six years later, Adam Levine is officially coming back to The Voice for season 27. He'll be joining coaches Kelsea Ballerini, John Legend, and Michael Bublé. (And with Adam stepping back into his old seat, fans can't help but wonder: Could we somehow convince Blake Shelton to return, too? 🤔)

Read on for all the details about Adam's journey on The Voice, including why he left in the first place, and what his return means for the show.

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 gave him time 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."

It was a well-earned break, but six years later, Adam is ready to get back in the game.

Why is Adam returning to The Voice?

Although Adam previously insisted he was done with the show, his return for season 27 proves you should never say never! NBC hasn't shared many details about what convinced Adam to come back, but we'd like to think he missed pressing that red button a little too much. Or maybe he just couldn't resist the chance to banter with new coach Michael Bublé?

In all seriousness, Adam told E! News, it was about timing. "I just felt like it was time," he shared in an exclusive interview. "I had some time to reflect and do my thing and be with my family."

But the real kicker? "I was ready to do it, then the stars aligned and here I am."

It looks like everything fell into place for Adam to return, and with a fresh mix of coaches—including Voice veteran John Legend—season 27 is going to be a good one. (Seriously, though: Can we get Blake back in the chair?!)

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. 😂)

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Kelly O'Sullivan
Senior Editor
Kelly O’Sullivan is the senior editor for The Pioneer Woman and manages the website’s social channels, in addition to overseeing content strategy and news.