Adam Levine Bids Farewell To ‘The Voice’ After 8 Years

After signing up to become a judge on ‘The Voice’ eight years ago, Adam Levine feels it is time to move on.

Levine made the announcement in a lengthy and emotional essay posted on Facebook just hours after The Voice host Carson Daly announced that the Maroon 5 frontman would be leaving the reality singing show after 16 seasons.

As the only other original judge — alongside his BFF Blake Shelton — Levine is leaving after first taking his seat in a giant red chair on April 26, 2011, and leading three singers to the winner’s circle over eight years.

“About 8 years ago, [executive producer] Mark Burnett convinced us to sign up for this show where you sit in a big red chair with your back turned away from the singers on the stage,” wrote Levine. “First thank you must go to Mark. We had no idea what we were doing or where it was going. After the first day of shooting, I sat there, stunned. I said to myself ‘theres some magic here. Something is definitely happening.’ It went on to be a life shaping experience that will be close to my heart forever.”

Levine had many thanks to share, including for his manager and NBC for allowing him to be part of something “I’ll always cherish for the rest of my life.” He tipped his hat to all the other coaches who’ve sat alongside him over the years, sharing a singular experience that they will all have for the rest of their lives, as well as to all of those who supported him on what he termed a “long strange and amazing left turn into a place I never thought I’d go.”

Levine’s split comes just two weeks after he retweeted a promo from The Voice in which he was announced to be returning along with fellow coaches John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Shelton. He will be replaced in the upcoming fall season by Gwen Stefani.

Read the full essay below.