Adam-Levine-The-Voice

Well, well, well. We certainly didn’t have “Adam Levine returns to ‘The Voice‘” on our Bingo card. Did you?

Levine, one-fourth of the original “Voice” U.S. coaching panel, is set to return to his big red chair … but there’s a catch. He won’t appear in Season 26, due out in Fall 2024 (those coaches will be Michael BubléGwen StefaniSnoop Dogg and Reba McEntire). Instead, he will return in Season 27, scheduled for Spring 2025 (alongside the likes of Kelsea BalleriniJohn Legend and Bublé).

The Maroon 5 front-man was part of the iconic Season 1 coaching panel on NBC with Blake SheltonChristina Aguilera and CeeLo Green. Levine left the show after 16 seasons, though he later popped up to taunt his “frenemy” Shelton, who remained in his chair until the end of Season 23.

Levine’s departure in 2019 caught everyone off-guard as he was expected to return to the judging panel in the following cycle. Many viewers suspected his decision to leave was influenced by the Season 15 controversy in which he infamously instructed people to vote for one of his artists (Reagan Strange) instead of the other (DeAndre Nico). However, as Levine said at the time, “For me, it was time to move on … What an amazing ride.”

Ballerini was a part-time coach in Seasons 15 and 20, plus an adviser in Season 16, but this is her first time she has the seat all to herself. Legend was a coach from Season 16 to 22, and again from Season 24 to 25, so Season 27 will mark his 10th season. And Bublé makes his “The Voice” debut as a coach this fall during Season 26.

“The Voice” has won four Emmy Awards for Best Competition Series. For the 2023-24 season, it was the most-watched alternative series (L7) on television.