Adam Levine opened up about a rare emotional moment from his time on “The Voice.” During the April 6 episode of “The Voice: Battle of Champions,” Levine reunited with season 1 winner Javier Colon and looked back on their win in 2011.
As Colon returned to the stage for the All-Star Showdown, he performed his Blind Audition song, Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” prompting Levine to revisit the moment that marked the show’s first-ever win.
Adam Levine Reflects on Emotional Season 1 Win on ‘The Voice’
Levine said the moment Colon was crowned the first winner of “The Voice” remains one of the most meaningful of his career.
“When I was giving you a big old bear hug when you won, I was like, in tears,” Levine said during the episode. “The only time I’ve ever really been in tears on TV.”
Colon also reflected on their journey together, thanking Levine for his support. “Thank you for believing in me, nothing would have been possible without you,” Colon said.
When Colon first appeared on “The Voice” in 2011, he impressed coaches with his performance of “Time After Time.” He joined Team Adam and went on to win the competition, helping establish the show’s early success.
Following his win, Colon toured with Levine and Maroon 5, as well as Train, and continued to release music, including his 2012 album “Come Through For You.” He later released “Gravity” in 2016 and has continued performing internationally.
The Maroon 5 Frontman Says Early ‘The Voice’ Days Were ‘Wild’
Levine also looked back on how different the show felt in its early seasons compared to today. In an interview with NBC Insider, he described the original coaching panel, which included Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and CeeLo Green, as unpredictable.
“It used to just be kind of crazy,” Levine said. “We were like the [Rolling] Stones or something. It was like chaos. CeeLo had a bird. We were like a punk rock band. It was wild thinking back on it; it was so out of control.”
Levine said the show has since evolved into a more structured and streamlined production.
“The general tone and the efficiency of the show… has gotten so pleasant,” he said. “It’s just gotten so different, in a good way, and efficient, and kind of mellow… And I’m so proud.”
Season 29 of “The Voice” airs Mondays at 9/8c on NBC, with episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock.
