As The Voice: Battle of Champions heats up in its Season 29 run, which premiered on February 23, 2026, on NBC, original coach Adam Levine is opening up about a long-standing frustration that has followed him back to the red chair: his persistent struggle to recruit country artists. In candid interviews and on-air moments during the early episodes, Levine has pointed the finger squarely at his longtime frenemy, former coach Blake Shelton, claiming the country superstar’s dominance has left “scars” that still influence his strategy—even now that Shelton is no longer in the competition.
Levine, the Maroon 5 frontman who coached Seasons 1 through 16 before stepping away and returning for Season 27 (and now Season 29), has been a fixture on the show since its 2011 debut. For much of that time, he shared the panel with Shelton, whose Oklahoma roots, CMA-winning pedigree, and easy rapport with twang-heavy contestants made him the go-to choice for country hopefuls. Year after year, singers in cowboy boots and hats would spin their chairs toward Shelton almost reflexively during Blind Auditions, leaving Levine to fight an uphill battle for artists outside his pop-rock wheelhouse.
“Blake Shelton has ruined me,” Levine said during a recent press junket and echoed in on-air commentary for Season 29. “He wounded me deep down in my soul.” The remark, delivered with Levine’s signature mix of humor and exaggeration, highlights a deeper truth: Shelton’s presence conditioned country contestants to gravitate toward him, creating a psychological barrier that persisted even after his departure following Season 23 in 2023.
The sentiment isn’t isolated to Levine. Fellow coach John Legend admitted during the same discussions that he too felt “scarred from many years of trying to get a country Artist on my team… not that I’m bitter!” Legend’s comment underscores how Shelton’s specialty effectively monopolized the genre for over a decade. Even after Shelton exited, subsequent country coaches like Reba McEntire and Kelsea Ballerini continued the trend, drawing in genre-specific talent and leaving non-country coaches like Levine and Legend at a perceived disadvantage.
Season 29’s format, dubbed “Battle of Champions,” shakes up the traditional four-coach structure by featuring only three returning powerhouses: Levine, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend. This “Battle of Champions” setup—emphasizing high-stakes rivalries, strategic Blocks, and intense Battles—has redistributed talent more evenly across genres. With no dedicated “cowboy” in the chairs, country artists are no longer funneled automatically to one team. Clarkson, a Texas native with her own country-pop crossover success, is the closest thing to a genre anchor, but even she doesn’t dominate as Shelton did.
“In the absence of the cowboy, it made it so the country [artists] were more evenly distributed,” Legend noted in a pre-premiere interview, highlighting one positive outcome of Shelton’s exit. Levine agreed, adding a playful jab: “Hi, Blake! You’re stupid! Hey, stupid Blake!” The lighthearted ribbing is classic Levine-Shelton banter, a dynamic that fueled some of the show’s most memorable moments during their overlapping tenures.
The rivalry between Levine and Shelton was legendary. From playful insults and mock feuds to genuine mutual respect, their chemistry kept viewers hooked. Shelton often teased Levine’s pop sensibilities, while Levine fired back about Shelton’s “mangy, musty” chair (a line he repeated when reclaiming it upon his return). Even after Shelton’s departure, Levine has continued the tradition—jokingly complaining about sitting in his old rival’s spot and sending mock texts that Shelton once famously dismissed with “Unsubscribe.”
This season, the absence of that direct competition has allowed Levine to rethink his approach. Early Blind Auditions in Season 29 (which aired February 23 and continued into subsequent episodes) showed country contestants considering multiple chairs without defaulting to a single country expert. Levine has had to actively fight for them, overcoming years of ingrained hesitation. “If only Levine remembers to turn his chair!” one NBC Insider recap quipped, capturing the coach’s self-aware struggle.
The show’s evolution reflects broader shifts in The Voice‘s landscape. Since Shelton’s exit, the panel has rotated through diverse coaches, including Michael Bublé, Niall Horan, Snoop Dogg, and others, bringing fresh dynamics. Season 29’s three-coach format intensifies the “Battle of Champions” narrative, forcing strategic decisions and alliances. Battles have become more cutthroat, with coaches pairing artists for direct showdowns that test versatility across genres.
Levine’s regret over country singers isn’t just personal—it’s tied to the show’s history. Country has always been a strong presence on The Voice, with winners like Craig Wayne Boyd (Season 7, Team Blake) and Todd Tilghman (Season 18, Team Blake) exemplifying Shelton’s success rate. Levine, despite his four wins (Seasons 1, 5, 10, and others across his tenure), rarely claimed country talent, leading to a team makeup heavy on pop, rock, and R&B.
Yet Levine remains optimistic. With country now “in play” among the three coaches, he’s actively working to break the pattern. “All’s well that ends well,” as one recap put it, and Levine has promised to push harder for the genre he once shied away from due to Shelton’s shadow.
The playful jabs at Shelton continue to add levity to the competition. During one early episode, when a contestant mentioned their hometown, Levine jokingly claimed a connection—only for Clarkson to call him out, quipping that “He’s in Blake’s old chair. It rubs off.” The moment drew laughs and reminded viewers that Shelton’s influence lingers, even in his absence.
As Season 29 progresses through Blind Auditions, Battles, and beyond (with episodes airing Mondays at 9/8c on NBC and streaming next-day on Peacock), Levine’s reflection serves as a reminder of how deeply one coach’s dominance can shape the game. The “scars” from years of losing country battles may run deep, but in this champion-led season, Levine has a chance to heal them—one turned chair at a time.
Fans tuning in are seeing not just a competition, but the evolution of a show shaped by iconic rivalries. And while Blake Shelton may be gone from the panel, his legacy—and Levine’s lingering regret—continues to fuel the drama.
