When People magazine crowned Blake Shelton the Sexiest Man Alive in 2017, the internet reacted with disbelief. Memes exploded. Group chats malfunctioned. Even Blake seemed mildly confused. But while the world debated beauty standards, Shelton had one crystal-clear thought in mind:
How can I use this to psychologically destroy Adam Levine?
That single objective turned a glossy magazine honor into one of the pettiest — and funniest — rivalries in modern pop culture.
The Rivalry That Fueled Everything
Blake Shelton and Adam Levine had spent years as dueling coaches on The Voice, developing a legendary on-screen “bromance” built entirely on insults. Since the show’s 2011 debut, their dynamic thrived on trash talk, pranks, and mutual humiliation.
The tension escalated in 2013 when Levine himself won Sexiest Man Alive. According to Shelton, Adam didn’t let the moment pass quietly — reportedly sending a massive framed version of his cover to Blake’s Oklahoma home. Blake later claimed he hung it… in his barn.
So when fate — or chaos — handed Shelton the same title four years later, revenge became inevitable.
“Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful”
Unlike most recipients who issue humble thank-yous, Blake skipped diplomacy entirely. In his official People interview, he bluntly admitted he accepted the title for one reason only.
“I can’t wait to shove this up Adam’s a—,” he said, laughing. “That’s really the only thing I care about.”
From that moment forward, the award became a weapon.
Shelton taped the magazine cover to his trailer door on The Voice set. He referenced it in nearly every interview. He greeted coworkers with the phrase, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” At one point, he reportedly blindfolded Levine and walked him across the Universal lot — only to reveal a giant billboard of Blake’s cover photo.
The goal was not confidence.
The goal was suffering.
Turning Backlash Into Comedy
Public reaction ranged from confusion to outrage. Shelton didn’t care. He leaned fully into the chaos, embracing the idea that the title made no sense — which somehow made it funnier.
“I’ve reached the peak,” he joked. “Anything after this is just downhill.”
Ironically, the moment arrived at a career high. In 2017, Shelton was dominating The Voice, had multiple chart-topping singles, and released Texoma Shore, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. He also became the first country artist ever to receive the Sexiest Man title.
Rather than defending his looks, Blake made himself the punchline — and that self-awareness only amplified the joke.
A Trophy Meant for War
To Shelton, the honor was never about vanity. It was a long-term prank budgeted by People magazine and executed with surgical precision against his longtime rival.
Years later, fans still reference the moment not as a beauty contest, but as the ultimate example of Blake Shelton’s greatest talent: turning prestige into trolling.
Because in the end, the real victory wasn’t being named the Sexiest Man Alive —
it was making sure Adam Levine would never forget it.