John Legend Reflects on Adam Levine’s Sudden Exit from ‘The Voice’

Less than a week after Levine surprisingly decided to leave the singing competition series following 16 seasons as coach, his former co-star John Legend opened up about his colleague’s departure.

On Friday, May 24 the Maroon 5 singer announced his departure from the singing competition series after 16 seasons as coach, with news of Gwen Stefani returning to replace him on Season 17.

While 40-year-old John Legend, the latest coach to have joined “The Voice” was very brief when he took to Twitter to comment on 41-year-old Adam Levine’s surprising exit, he recently elaborated on the subject in conversation with ET.

SAD TO SEE LEVINE GO

"Yeah, we're sad to see him go. We are very sad, and he's been a part of the show since the beginning, 16 seasons. He's been so important to the show even existing, so we're all going to miss him," Legend said on May 29.

Speaking from the Sesame Street Workshop’s 50th Anniversary Benefit Gala in New York City, Legend also expressed his joy over Gwen Stefani returning as a coach to fill in for Levine, who was one of the show’s original coaches.

"Yeah, Gwen's going to be great. I think Blake [Shelton] is pretty happy about it," Legend joked about the couple that started dating while working on the show in 2015.

AN AUSPICIOUS DEBUT AS COACH

Legend’s debuting season as a coach for “The Voice” has been auspicious, since he succeeded in helping 26-year-old Maelyn Jarmon become the winner of Season 16.

“When you have Maelyn on your team, she's supposed to win ‘The Voice.’ Her voice is supposed to win. That's why it's called ‘The Voice,’" the proud coach said in his meeting with the press following Jarmon’s victory.

Jarmon’s victory is especially touching since the talented singer is completely deaf in her right ear and has 80% of hearing in her left one, due to the damage she suffered as a child because of recurring infections.

COLLABORATING ON LEVINE’S LATEST PROJECT

Legend has supported Levine in the latter’s recently debuted show “Songland,” appearing as celebrity guest star on the series which focuses in aspiring songwriters who are given the chance to collaborate with producers and performers.

Legend was the first star to appear on the show, which premiered on May 28, and he already released the first song written by a contestant, titled “We Need Love.”

The song earned its composer Tebby Burrows the first win of the show, despite initially receiving not too promising critiques by the judges Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, and Shane McAnally.

"The verses feel really nice now. It's super conversational...it really gave me chills, I felt it and [I'm] ready to record it," Legend said after the song was reworked for the better.