Adam Levine once sang for Brian Wilson and came away with an uncomfortable memory: one of his musical heroes had nothing to say afterward.
The Maroon 5 frontman revisited the encounter during the October 19 episode of The Voice, while coaching Amanda Mikkel and Julia Clark through their Battle Round rehearsals.
The contestants were preparing Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” but they were struggling to relax around the piano and connect as duet partners.
With guest advisor Alex Warren beside him, Levine offered a personal reminder that years of performing do not necessarily make it easier to sing for someone you desperately want to impress.
Brian Wilson Watched Without Offering Feedback
Adam Levine recounts ‘really uncomfortable’ performance for rock legend on ‘The Voice.’ It happened 14 years ago. https://t.co/4LcXlBekWp
Entertainment Weekly (@EW) October 20, 2026
Levine remembered singing “Surfer Girl” in a brightly lit room while the Beach Boys cofounder stared at him throughout the performance. Watching Wilson’s expression, he got the impression that the songwriter was unhappy with what he heard.
When Levine finished, he waited for a comment. “He didn’t have one word for me,” he recalled on the NBC show, according to Entertainment Weekly. Wilson died on June 11, 2025, at age 82.
Maroon 5 Joined the Beach Boys’ 2012 Grammy Tribute
Levine’s history with the song includes a much more public performance. Maroon 5 sang “Surfer Girl” at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
The tribute celebrated the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary. Foster the People followed Maroon 5 with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” before Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks reunited for “Good Vibrations.”
Levine and Foster the People’s Mark Foster also joined the closing portion of the performance, bringing the younger musicians back alongside the group they were honoring.
The Recording Academy’s live coverage praised Levine’s vocals during the televised tribute. Before the ceremony, Levine called the opportunity “a total dream come true,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Alex Warren Brought His Own Experience to Team Adam
Warren also reassured Mikkel and Clark that professional musicians encounter difficult rooms. He described performing for audiences who seemed uninterested, as well as people who watched intently without offering much encouragement.
In an October 13 interview with PEOPLE, Levine explained that a friend of his children was a devoted Warren fan, so his music was frequently playing in Levine’s car.
The musicians had never met before working together on the show. Levine appreciated how readily Warren spoke up and offered contestants practical guidance, ultimately ranking him among his best advisors. Warren told the publication that he had looked up to Levine since childhood and had dreamed of an opportunity like this.
Amanda Mikkel Advances After the Elvis Duet
When the contestants performed for the coaches, both received praise, though there was no unanimous favorite. Queen Latifah complimented their presence onstage and recalled enjoying Mikkel’s earlier Blind Audition rendition of “Moon River.”
Kelly Clarkson admired the texture and tone of both voices, while Riley Green appreciated how they had made a familiar Presley song their own. Green leaned slightly toward Clark.
Levine still heard nerves. He told the singers that managing their anxiety would become more important as the competition progressed and felt their individual performances had been stronger than their work together.
His decision rested on who he believed had the greater potential to develop in the competition. He selected Mikkel to remain on Team Adam. Clark was eliminated, according to TVLine’s episode recap. Episodes of The Voice are available on Peacock after airing on NBC.