Adam Levine Opens Up About His Return to The Voice, Says It Was the Right Time for a Comeback

Adam Levine's return to The Voice was more than just a decision—it was the right moment in time.

Ahead of the season 27 premiere of the hit singing competition show, Levine spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about his break from the show and what led to his comeback. "I honestly feel like the stars aligned," said the 45-year-old Maroon 5 frontman. "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, who stepped away from The Voice after season 16, admitted that he needed a break from television. "Doing it for so long, so consistently, for almost eight or nine years of my life, you can definitely start to get burnt," he explained. "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."

Reflecting on his time off, Levine shared how refreshing it was to have just one focus. "It was so nice to have one job," he said, adding, "but I'm ready to let this huge part of my life back in."

Levine, who has been reunited with fellow coaches Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé, and John Legend, is enthusiastic about the experience. "I got lucky because I got these guys," he said of his co-stars.

Having served as a coach since The Voice premiered in 2011, Levine was part of the original panel alongside Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and CeeLo Green. His return was officially announced in June, following his departure in May 2019.

Levine's perspective on the show has evolved over the years. "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 said. "It's an opportunity for us to share our experiences with the people on the show. And it always has been that." While still competitive, Levine views his role as more about offering guidance and support to the contestants. "I think that's really valuable for the people on the show that are needing that experience, or that push that help," he added.

Source: People Magazine