Adam Levine and Kelsea Ballerini ‘Instantly’ Became Friends on The Voice. Why She Reminds Him of Blake Shelton (Exclusive)

Kelsea Ballerini and Adam Levine became fast friends on The Voice set.

The country superstar joined the singing competition as a first-time coach for season 27 at the same time the Maroon 5 frontman returned to his chair after a five-year break.

“We got along famously instantly — like a nice, friendly, sweet version of when I met Blake,” Levine, 46, says of his bond with Ballerini, 31, which he likens to previous on-set frenemy Blake Shelton.

Levine adds that “there’s no BS” to Ballerini — which he learned early on, when they recorded a performance with their fellow coaches John Legend and Michael Bublé.

“I’ve only really ever sung with an ensemble group of people on The Voice, so it’s still foreign to me a little bit. And I go in my feelings, go inside a little bit, close my eyes, whatever — and we did a take of this song for the coaches’ performance, and then she looked up at me, and she’d be like, ‘Hey, you going to pretend you like us?'” Levine recalls. “And I thought that was so f—ing funny and on point and great — and just instant friendship, because I always love someone who’s not afraid to give me a little bit of s—.”

A Voice coaching veteran, Levine says Ballerini is a natural fit on the show (airing Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC).

“What I like about her is that what you see is what you get,” he adds. “A lot of things these days are manufactured, but she’s been really tried-and-true to who she is and unafraid to do what she wants to do musically.”

Ballerini’s run on the show comes as she continues to reach major career milestones — from her first headlining arena tour, to her first nomination for entertainer of the year at the 2025 ACM Awards.

“In this moment, literally while her star is rising, however you want to say it, she’s handling it all with so much poise and grace,” Levine says, “and it’s interesting to watch.”

Of course, Ballerini has nothing but love for her fellow coaches.

“Being in a seat next to people that I grew up on more or less … like, [Maroon 5’s] Songs About Jane is one of my favorite records of all time. I’ve covered John Legend a million times. I went and saw Michael Bublé at Bridgestone in Nashville,” Ballerini says. “I’m a fan of these guys.”

For much more on Kelsea Ballerini, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere now.