Adam Levine Jokes Best Part of His Return to The Voice Is ‘Not Having to Be Around’ Frenemy Blake Shelton (Exclusive)

“People loved watching us talk s— to each other,” Levine tells PEOPLE of why there’s “no replacing” his banter with former ‘Voice’ coach Shelton

Adam Levine is excited to make his grand return to The Voice, but knows it’ll feel a little different without his best buddy, Blake Shelton.

Still, that won’t prevent the Maroon 5 frontman from making some jokes at Shelton’s expense.

“The best part about being back with The Voice Family is that I don’t have to deal with Blake Shelton,” Levine, 45, quips while chatting with PEOPLE in this week’s issue about his return to the NBC hit series. “I just don’t like him. So, it’s been great not having to be around him. He’s a bad friend…”

“I’m just kidding,” he clarifies. “Of course, I love Blake. And I had to open with a Blake joke because he’s not on the show anymore, yet they still continue.”

Levine and Shelton, 48, were among the four original coaches when The Voice premiered in 2011. The Maroon 5 frontman remained on the show until 2019 when he left after 16 seasons, and Shelton followed a few years later in May 2023 after 23 seasons. During their tenure on the show together, the two became close friends while also poking fun at one another with playful insults and jokes.