The hit singing competition “The Voice” is back with its 2025 season, and fans have a lot to say—some excited, some frustrated, and some ready to stop watching altogether. While many are thrilled about Adam Levine’s return to the red chair, others feel disappointed about the changes in the coaching lineup.
A Controversial Coaching Choice
NBC’s long-running show has always brought big names to the coaching panel, and this year is no different.
Adam Levine, a former original coach who left after Season 16, has made a surprising comeback. While some viewers are happy to see him back, others are missing their favorite coaches from previous seasons.
One fan took to social media to express their disappointment, saying, “Watched it, but not real happy with judge choices this year.
Sad. I was looking forward to it starting back up. Disappointed!!” Another user echoed similar feelings, lamenting the absence of former coaches, “Just not the same without the previous coaches. Miss Gwen, Reba, Blake, Snoop, and more. Not a fan of Adam.”
However, not all fans are upset. A devoted viewer was thrilled by Levine’s return, posting, “I AM SOOOOOO GLAD Adam is back. They are all amazing, but Adam has always been a favorite!”
Controversy Surrounding Adam Levine’s Coaching Style
While Adam Levine has an undeniable fanbase, some viewers haven’t forgotten the controversies surrounding his coaching style in previous seasons.
One fan recalled a particularly infamous moment, “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.”
Despite mixed reactions, some fans are simply happy the show is back. One viewer wrote, “Sooo good! And am so glad Adam is back!!! Love me some Maroon 5!!!!”
Adam Levine Opens Up About His Return
In a recent interview with People, Levine, 45, shared why now was the right time to come back 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 left The Voice after Season 16, explaining that he needed a break from television. Reflecting on his time on the show, he described it as an “interesting and beautiful thing” but admitted that the relentless schedule wore him out.
“Doing it for so long, so consistently, for almost eight or nine years of my life, you can definitely start to get burnt,” he admitted.
During his time away, Levine focused on what mattered most to him—his music and his family. “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 step back gave him the space to enjoy life outside of television.
“It was so nice to have one job,” he said, adding that he now feels ready to welcome back The Voice, which has been a “huge part of my life.”
A New Perspective on Coaching
Levine’s return is not just about nostalgia—he says he has a different mindset this time around. His fellow coaches for Season 27—Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé, and John Legend—have made the transition feel even better.
“I got lucky because I got these guys,” Levine said, expressing excitement about working alongside them.
This time, he’s approaching the competition differently. “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. Instead, he believes the real purpose of The Voice is mentorship.
“It’s an opportunity for us to share our experiences with the people on the show. And it always has been that.”
Levine acknowledged that while competitiveness still exists, his main focus is guiding and supporting 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.”
A Full-Circle Moment
Levine’s return was officially announced in June 2024, marking a full-circle moment for the musician. As one of the original The Voice coaches when the show debuted in 2011, he sat alongside Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and CeeLo Green. He remained on the show for 16 seasons before stepping away in 2019.
In an October 2019 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Levine shared why he originally left. “The real answer is that I was ready to not be doing it anymore… for a little bit,” he revealed. The decision, he explained, felt natural.
“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 balancing The Voice with his music career 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.
But as his 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 said. His break from the show allowed him to focus on his growing family while continuing his music career.
Now, six years later, he’s back, sitting in the famous red chair with a new outlook and renewed energy.
The Season Premiere
Season 27 of The Voice premiered on Monday, February 3, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Whether viewers are cheering or groaning about Levine’s return, there’s no denying that his comeback is one of the biggest talking points of the season.
As the competition unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see if Adam Levine’s coaching style has changed—or if history will repeat itself.
