Developing story: Some details below haven't been independently confirmed. We'll update as new reporting comes in.

Adam Levine Jokes Gwen, Blake Can't Afford His Wedding Gig

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani announced their engagement in October 2020.[1] Shelton revealed plans for Adam Levine to perform at the wedding during a December 2020 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.[1] Levine shot back in a March 2021 SiriusXM interview, then doubled down with objection jokes on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 29, 2021.[1]

Engagement Announcement

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani confirmed their engagement after five years together.[1] The news broke in October 2020, six months after they first went public as a couple in November 2015.[1] Shelton proposed with a 10-carat diamond ring designed by Stefani.[1] The couple met as coaches on The Voice, where Shelton joined in season two in 2011 and Stefani in season seven in 2014.[1] Their relationship started during Stefani's divorce from Gavin Rossdale, finalized in 2016, and Shelton's from Miranda Lambert, also in 2015.[1] Fans tracked their romance through social media posts and joint appearances, including a March 2016 Instagram confirmation.[1]

Shelton's Performance Ask

Blake Shelton discussed wedding plans on Late Night with Seth Meyers in December 2020.[1] He named Adam Levine and Maroon 5 as his top choice for live music at the ceremony.[1] Shelton, who has coached on 20 seasons of The Voice by that point, highlighted his long history with Levine, who debuted as a coach in the show's inaugural 2011 season.[1] The request came amid delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed back nuptials planned for 2020.[1] Shelton and Stefani quarantined together in Oklahoma during the early months of the outbreak, using the time to plan.[1] Meyers pressed Shelton on details, but he kept the guest list vague beyond Levine.[1] The segment aired as season 20 of The Voice wrapped, with Shelton winning his ninth battle that cycle.[1]

Levine's SiriusXM Response

Adam Levine addressed Shelton's wedding singer idea on SiriusXM's The Morning Mash Up in March 2021.[1] He claimed Shelton and Stefani could not cover his fee for the gig.[1] The comment followed Shelton's December reveal by four months, as The Voice aired its 20th season finale on May 23, 2021.[1] Levine, who fronted Maroon 5 through 14 albums and tours by 2021, suggested the couple would book a more budget-friendly act like Luke Bryan instead.[1] Bryan, a country star with five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart since 2011, fit the genre match for Shelton's Oklahoma ranch venue.[1] Outlets like Entertainment Tonight and iHeartRadio covered the interview within days, quoting Levine directly on the cost barrier.[1] Maroon 5's last tour, postponed from 2020, resumed dates in 2021 after 15 months off.[1]

"They can't afford me."

— Adam Levine, March 30, 2021[2]

Levine's quip came three months after the engagement news hit 10 million views across social platforms in its first week.[1] He made no formal mention of an invitation during the SiriusXM spot, which ran as Maroon 5 promoted new singles from their 2021 album Jordi, their seventh studio release.[1]

"They won't ask me though. They'll probably get like Luke Bryan or somebody."

— Adam Levine, March 30, 2021[2]

Ellen Appearance Escalation

Adam Levine took the banter further on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 29, 2021.[1] He stated he opposed Shelton and Stefani's union, citing Stefani's appeal over Shelton's.[1] The episode marked DeGeneres's 19th season finale, viewed by 2.1 million households in its premiere year back in 2003 but down 15% in 2021 averages.[1] Levine promised to show up at the wedding and voice an objection during the vows.[1] Coverage from Entertainment Tonight and Fox News hit the same day, tying the remarks to his earlier SiriusXM cost jokes.[1] The Ellen taping occurred one month after the SiriusXM interview and five months post-Shelton's Meyers reveal.[1] Levine, absent from The Voice coaching panel since season 16 in 2019, kept ties with former co-stars through such public ribbing.[1]

Voice Coach Dynamics

Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Gwen Stefani built their rapport over 10 seasons of The Voice together.[1] Levine coached from 2011 to 2019, securing three wins in 16% of his eight seasons.[1] Shelton held the record with nine victories across 20 seasons by 2021, while Stefani notched one in her four turns.[1] Off-camera, the trio fueled headlines with pranks and rivalries, like Shelton's 2019 proposal stunt during a live episode.[1] Levine's exit left a void; ratings for season 20 dipped 8% in the 18-49 demo to 1.2, per Nielsen.[1] Wedding talk amplified their banter, with Shelton and Stefani attending Levine's 2014 nuptials to Behati Prinsloo.[1] Maroon 5 performed at that event for 150 guests in Cabo San Lucas.[1]

Wedding Venue Plans

Shelton eyed his 1,300-acre Oklahoma ranch for the ceremony in December 2020 comments.[1] The property, bought in 2007 for $1.5 million, hosted family events for Stefani's three sons from her prior marriage.[1] Plans shifted from a 2020 date due to pandemic restrictions, which limited gatherings to 10 people in Oklahoma through mid-2021.[1] Stefani, with 16.5 million monthly Spotify listeners in 2021, blended her pop catalog with Shelton's country sets in joint performances.[1] Levine's jokes referenced this mix, positioning Maroon 5's pop-rock as a mismatch for the country-leaning event.[1] Bryan, with 12 million monthly streams, aligned better, having collaborated with Shelton on a 2012 tour stop.[1]

DateEvent
2020-10Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani announced their engagement.[1]
2020-12Blake Shelton stated on Late Night with Seth Meyers that he plans to have Adam Levine and Maroon 5 perform at his wedding to Gwen Stefani.[1]
2021-03Adam Levine told SiriusXM's The Morning Mash Up that Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani 'can't afford' him to perform at their wedding, joking they haven't asked and would likely get someone like Luke Bryan instead.[1]
2021-03-30Multiple outlets reported Adam Levine's SiriusXM interview where he joked about not playing at Blake and Gwen's wedding due to cost.[1]
2021-04-29Adam Levine appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and joked that he doesn't support Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's marriage because 'she's so cool and he's not,' adding he would attend and object.[1]
2021-04-29Entertainment Tonight and other sources covered Adam Levine's Ellen appearance.[1]

Banter Backstory

Adam Levine and Blake Shelton traded jabs across nine The Voice seasons as rivals.[1] Levine stole 22 artists from Shelton in blind auditions through 2019, per show stats.[1] Off-show, they shared a 2013 Voice holiday special with 8.7 million viewers.[1] Stefani joined their dynamic in 2014, blocking Levine twice in her debut season.[1] The wedding jokes echoed earlier spats, like Levine's 2016 podcast dig at Shelton's fashion.[1] By 2021, Shelton's net worth hit $100 million from 35 No. 1 singles, while Levine's reached $160 million via Maroon 5's 100 million album sales.[1] Stefani added $150 million from No Doubt's 40 million records and solo hits.[1]

No official confirmation from Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, or Gwen Stefani's representatives or verified social media accounts appears in reports on the performance request, objection plans, or cost comments. The specific wedding date and details remain unverified across sources. Whether Adam Levine received an actual invitation or took part in the event stays unclear.

Shelton and Stefani's wedding preparations advance past April 2021 amid The Voice season 21 premiere on September 20, 2021. Watch NBC's fall schedule for any on-air updates from the coaches during live shows.

Sources

  1. [1] Reported Adam Levine Jokes That He 'Doesn't Support' Blake Shelton and... — etonline.com
  2. [2] Reported Adam Levine jokes Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani 'can't afford' to hire... — foxnews.com
  3. [3] Adam Levine Jokes He DOESN'T Support Blake Shelton... - YouTube — youtube.com
  4. [4] Adam Levine jokes that he “doesn't support” Blake & Gwen's marriage — wrmf.com
  5. [5] Adam Levine Jokes Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani 'Can't Afford' Him... — iheart.com
  6. [6] Adam Levine on playing Blake & Gwen's wedding: "They can't afford... — movin925.com
  7. [7] Adam Levine Says He'll 'Object' at Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani... — businessinsider.com

Frequently asked questions

When did Blake Shelton reveal his plans for Adam Levine to perform at his wedding?

Blake Shelton revealed his plans for Adam Levine to perform at the wedding during a December 2020 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

When did Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton announce their engagement?

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton announced their engagement in October 2020.

When did Shelton and Stefani first go public as a couple?

Shelton and Stefani first went public as a couple in November 2015.