Adam Levine and Blake Shelton Will Basically Never Leave 'The Voice': 'They Love the Paycheck,' NBC Boss Jokes

Ever wonder why Adam Levine and Blake Shelton never seem to be the ones giving up their red chairs on The Voice? Now you have your answer!

“They love doing the show and they love the paycheck,” NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt joked to reporters on Tuesday’s summer Television Critics Association press tour session.

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Levine and Shelton have been the two constants -- along with host Carson Daly -- over the course of 11 cycles of NBC’s popular singing competition series. They’ve remained as coaches on The Voice, while the two other coaches have been a rotating stable of musicians. Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys will join the duo this fall.

“If I can compare it to a scripted show, you kind of have your series regulars that you love. They are always hugely popular whenever we do testing and we’ve done a fair amount of that over 11 cycles,” Greenblatt explained. “We think they’re the pillars of the show and then we have this revolving family of Gwen [Stefani], Pharrell, now Miley and Alicia joining the pack.”


Jennifer Salke,
NBC Entertainment President, echoed Greenblatt’s sentiments, saying that whenever new blood comes into the fray, it “always stirs up their bromance. It’s fun to watch.”

RELATED: Adam Levine Responds to Rumors He's Leaving 'The Voice'

“We think the heart of it is those two guys and what they’ve built and their relationship and the surprise of the new people,” Greenblatt added.

Earlier this year, Levine’s season 10 mentees seemed to be under the impression that the 37-year-old Maroon 5 frontman would take a break from the show once his wife, model Behati Prinsloo, gives birth. Of course, that’s not the case.

“Oh man," Adam quipped to ET in response during an April interview. "I'm gonna leave here and I don't even know where I'm going. I don't think that far ahead. We'll see."

In May, Shelton addressed rumors that he was leaving The Voice, setting the record straight in an interview with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on the Today show.

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“I’ve heard many rumors that I’ve been fired,” Shelton admitted. “I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’d like to stay there as long as I can. Of course I’m going to stay there!”

“The moron is coming back, too,” the country star said of Levine. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”


The Voice
returns Sept. 19, with a special half-hour post-Olympics preview airing Aug. 21 on NBC.