Adam Levine quits The Voice after 16 years; calls it 'a life shaping experience'

By Ahana Nagar

on May 28, 2019

After serving as a coach in the singing reality show The Voice for 16 years, Adam Levine is now ready to say goodbye and fans of the show are having a tough time letting go.

Adam revealed the news on Friday, bidding farewell with a lengthy Instagram post. “We had no idea what we were doing or where it was going,” he wrote. “It went on to be a life shaping experience that will be close to my heart forever.”

View this post on Instagram

About 8 years ago, Mark Burnett convinced us to sign up 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. We had no idea what we were doing or where it was going. After the first day of shooting, I sat there, stunned. I said to myself “theres some magic here. Something is definitely happening.” 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. 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. Thank you to everyone who supported this long strange and amazing left turn into a place I never thought I’d go. Thank you Carson Daly for babysitting the musicians and making sure our shoes were tied and we had our lunch boxes. You are the backbone of this thing and we appreciate you more than you know. Audrey, thank you for being perhaps the most patient person in all the free world. 4 musicians all at once is a lot. Sainthood is imminent. Thank you to Paul Mirkovich and the band for their ridiculously hard work and learning more songs than maybe any band ever. Thank you to the people behind the scenes who do the real work and make this machine hum. To the amazingly talented vocalists who competed on the show and blew my mind on a daily basis. And, BLAKE FUCKIN’ SHELTON. 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. Kelly and John, take care of the cowboy and I’m sure I’ll be back to say hi very very soon. So much love to you both. 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. 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. Adam

A post shared by Adam Levine (@adamlevine) on May 24, 2019 at 8:12am PDT

Meanwhile, fellow The Voice coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend are reacting to the news that the Maroon 5 frontman will not be returning to the hit singing competition series, making it clear he will be missed.

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

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) May 24, 2019

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 To start an amazing show from the ground up is a big deal!

— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) May 24, 2019

We'll miss you, brother https://t.co/woIegAzboM

— John Legend (@johnlegend) May 24, 2019

Along with singer Shelton, CeeLo Green and pop sensation Christina Aguilera, Adam joined the reality show back in 2011 when it first aired. Meanwhile, per host Carson Daly and Gwen Stefani, who made a surprise appearance on the show in some of the seasons, will replace Adam in season 17 of the show.