Christina Aguilera has her priorities in check. In between seasons 3 and 5 of NBC's The Voice, the 32-year-old musician underwent a total body makeover. And yet, according to the "We Remain" singer, she'd prefer to spend more time with her 5-year-old son Max Bratman than log extra hours in the gym.
"If I have to choose between working out and spending time with my son after a hard day, it's not even a question," the slimmed-down star tells the November issue of Redbook, which hits stands Oct. 15.
In fact, Max is the main reason Aguilera decided to take a hiatus from The Voice in 2013. "I needed to decompress, wind down the clock and just breathe," she explains. "I needed to find out who I am outside of that red chair. We did three seasons, and I wanted to disengage and have my life back and be with my son—put my sweatpants on and wipe my makeup off."
Given her upbringing, the five-time Grammy winner is extra protective of her family. "I have spoken honestly about being born into a home where there was discord and chaos. I saw my mom have a rough time with my dad being very controlling, which is why I push back whenever I feel like someone is trying to box me in," she reveals. "It makes me run for the hills."
Aguilera feels at home again now that she's reunited with fellow Voice coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and CeeLo Green. "I know these guys so well. They really are like my brothers, no joke," she tells the magazine. "There's a 12 year-old-boy in me who loves to come out and play with them."