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'The Voice' season 17: With Adam Levine absent can Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani match the banter?

Though the series is yet to premiere, Adam's absence has been felt ever since the series announced he wouldn't be returning.

'The Voice' season 17 is all set to grace our screens with its premiere next week on September 23 and after airing for 16 seasons, this is the first one we will be going into without fan-favorite coach Adam Levine present in his red chair. 

Though the series is yet to premiere, Adam's absence has been felt ever since the series announced he wouldn't be returning. Fans immediately took to social media to express their disappointment and some also stated that the series will never be the same with Adam not there anymore, and that is a fact that everyone agrees upon. Just like other reality TV shows, the series has had its share of ups and downs, but the glue that held everything together was Adam and Blake Shelton's healthy banter and fun. 

And now since the duo is no more, that doesn't mean the series will stop, because it clearly looks like 'The Voice' producers are trying their best to mask Adam's absence by bringing the best stars in this season. 

Starting from bringing the best mentors the series has had in a long time. This was the first step, that got fans who claimed they might not end up watching the show because Adam's not returning, to get excited for the series to premiere. 

The series earlier this month revealed the four battle round mentors. Normani, the former Fifth Harmony singer joined Kelly Clarkson's team as this season's battle advisor. Joining Blake's team is Hootie and the Blowfish singer, Darius Rucker. will.i.am joined as the battle advisor for Gwen Stefani who is taking Adam's place as the coach this season. And back again this season, not as a coach, but as a battle advisor is Usher, who joined John Legend's team. 

But the icing on the cake is the return of Taylor Swift. Taylor joined this season as their mega mentor. This is not the first time Taylor is appearing on the show as a mega mentor, she had appeared a few seasons ago for the same but is back again this season. Though we might never find another mega mentor as Taylor, one thing is clear, it took 5 stars to mask the absence of superstar Adam Levine. 

Though we will surely get to see healthy banter happen between Gwen and Blake, they sure will not make up for the banter we used to witness with the OG pair, Adam and Blake. Gwen might have called on war between her and Blake this season, but Adam's absence will always be felt, and it might hit right when the season premieres. 

'The Voice' season 17 will premiere on September 23 only on NBC. Check your local listings for more information.