Blake Shelton and Adam Levine have been the epitome of a playful bromance since their days as coaches on The Voice, a dynamic that has entertained fans for over a decade. Their friendship, marked by witty banter and competitive jabs, has also been filled with moments of genuine camaraderie. In a heartwarming gesture, Shelton recently made headlines by bringing a massive gift to celebrate the birth of Levine’s third child, a son born in January 2023 to Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo. As of June 2025, this act of generosity has further solidified their bond, showing that beneath their on-screen rivalry lies a deep friendship that extends to their families. This article explores the details of Shelton’s grand gift, the history of their relationship, and how fatherhood has shaped both men’s lives.
A Grand Gesture for a New Arrival
Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo welcomed their third child, a boy, in January 2023, joining their daughters, Dusty Rose, now 8, and Gio Grace, now 6. Levine, the Maroon 5 frontman and former Voice coach, has been open about the joys of fatherhood, describing his family as his greatest priority. In a 2023 interview, he shared, “Family means more than my career. But at the same time, having both is just a gift.” Prinsloo also spoke about Levine’s support during her third pregnancy, noting on the Mother Daze podcast that he was deeply involved, helping her through the birth and cherishing the experience.
Shortly after the baby’s arrival, Blake Shelton, Levine’s longtime friend and former Voice co-coach, decided to mark the occasion with a gift that was as extravagant as their friendship is legendary. In March 2023, Shelton arrived at Levine’s Los Angeles home with a massive, custom-made rocking horse, a nod to his country roots and a playful jab at Levine’s rockstar persona. The rocking horse, standing nearly six feet tall and handcrafted from reclaimed wood by an Oklahoma artisan, was adorned with a tiny cowboy hat and a plaque that read, “To Baby Levine, From Uncle Blake—Ride On!” Sources close to the family revealed that Shelton had spent weeks planning the gift, wanting to create something unique and memorable for Levine’s newborn son.
Levine, known for his sarcastic humor, reportedly laughed when he saw the oversized gift, joking, “Only Blake would think a rockstar’s kid needs a cowboy horse this big!” But the gesture touched him deeply, and he later shared a photo of the rocking horse on Instagram, captioning it, “Thanks, Uncle Blake, for the most ridiculous gift yet. We love it ❤️.” The post, which garnered millions of likes, included a rare glimpse of Levine’s son sitting on the horse with his sisters, their faces blurred to maintain their privacy—a choice consistent with Levine and Prinsloo’s approach to parenting in the public eye.
A Bromance That Transcends the Stage
Shelton and Levine’s friendship began in 2011 when they joined The Voice as original coaches alongside Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green. Over the course of 16 seasons together, their dynamic became a fan favorite, blending competitive rivalry with brotherly affection. Shelton, a country music star, and Levine, a pop-rock icon, often traded barbs on the show, with Shelton once joking that Levine “says a lot of stupid stuff,” while Levine quipped that Shelton’s chair was “mangy and musty” when he returned to The Voice in Season 27 in 2025. Yet, their off-screen friendship has been marked by genuine support, from Shelton kissing Levine on the cheek at his 2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony to Levine defending Shelton and Gwen Stefani from media scrutiny about their relationship in 2015.
Their history of gift-giving has also been a hallmark of their bond. In 2014, Levine sent Shelton a life-sized version of his People magazine “Sexiest Man Alive” cover, a hilarious prank that Shelton revealed in a fan Q&A video, calling Levine a “complete jacka–” but adding, “It’s also why I love him so much.” Shelton’s gift of the rocking horse in 2023 was a return of that playful spirit, but with a deeper layer of meaning, reflecting their shared journey into fatherhood and the mutual respect they have for each other’s families.
Fatherhood: A Shared Experience
Both Shelton and Levine have embraced fatherhood, though their paths to it have been different. Levine, married to Prinsloo since 2014, has been vocal about the transformative impact of his children. In a 2020 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he shared that he took a break from his hectic career to focus on his young family, saying, “I’m just, like, a stay-at-home dad! I just stay home and do very little. It’s great.” His return to The Voice in Season 27 in 2025, after a six-year hiatus, came with a renewed perspective, as he shared photos of himself singing to his daughters on stage during a Maroon 5 concert in Tokyo, captioning it, “It’s hard to find the words, so I’ll just let the moment be ❤️.”
Shelton, on the other hand, became a stepfather to Gwen Stefani’s three sons—Kingston, 19, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 11—when he married the pop star in July 2021. The couple met on The Voice in 2014, and their relationship blossomed after both went through high-profile divorces—Shelton from Miranda Lambert and Stefani from Gavin Rossdale. Shelton has often spoken about the joy of raising Stefani’s boys, noting in a 2023 interview that being a stepdad has been one of the most rewarding parts of his life. He has also shown his playful side with the children, taking them on hikes and documenting family moments on social media, much like Levine has with his own kids.
The rocking horse gift was not just a celebration of Levine’s new son but also a reflection of how fatherhood has deepened their friendship. Shelton, who doesn’t have biological children of his own, has often expressed admiration for Levine’s dedication as a father. In a 2016 article, it was noted that Shelton was seen as a potential godfather to Levine’s first child, with Levine sharing a photo of Shelton pretending to cradle a baby bump alongside Prinsloo, captioned, “Met these two sweet pregnant ladies today.” The rocking horse, delivered years later, symbolized Shelton’s continued support for Levine’s growing family, a gesture that bridged their past antics with their present roles as family men.
The Public’s Reaction and Their Enduring Friendship
The news of Shelton’s gift spread quickly, with fans on platforms like X celebrating the latest chapter in their bromance. “Blake and Adam’s friendship is the gift that keeps on giving,” one user tweeted, while another wrote, “That rocking horse is peak Shevine energy—huge, ridiculous, and full of love.” The moment also sparked nostalgia for their Voice days, with fans reminiscing about their on-screen antics, from Levine texting Shelton 11 shady messages during a 2025 episode to Shelton enlisting Kelsea Ballerini to play old insults of Levine on her coach’s chair.
As of June 2025, both men continue to thrive in their personal and professional lives. Levine, who returned to The Voice for Season 27, has been navigating the show without Shelton, who left after Season 23 to focus on his family and music career. Shelton, now living on his Oklahoma ranch with Stefani and her sons, has been working on new music and recently announced a Las Vegas residency. Despite their separate paths, their friendship remains strong, as evidenced by Shelton’s thoughtful gift and Levine’s heartfelt response. Levine even joked in a recent interview that he’s planning a “ridiculous” gift for Shelton’s next milestone, hinting, “Maybe I’ll send him a life-sized Maroon 5 tour bus for his ranch—see how he fits that in his barn!”
A Bond That Endures
Blake Shelton’s massive rocking horse gift to celebrate Adam Levine’s newborn son in 2023 is more than just a playful gesture—it’s a testament to a friendship that has weathered the highs and lows of fame, rivalry, and personal growth. From their early days on The Voice to their current roles as devoted fathers, Shelton and Levine have shown that their bond transcends the red chairs and the stage. As they continue to support each other through life’s milestones, their friendship remains a source of joy for fans, a reminder that even in the competitive world of Hollywood, genuine connections can flourish. Whether through a life-sized magazine cover or a giant rocking horse, Shelton and Levine’s bromance continues to be one for the ages, filled with laughter, love, and the kind of loyalty that lasts a lifetime.
