Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green won’t be returning to NBC’s The Voice for season 4, but the show has already found two new Voice coaches to try to fill their rotating seats.
R&B singer Usher and Latin pop beauty Shakira will be filling in for Christina and Cee Lo, but only temporarily.
The two veteran judges are only taking a season off in order to focus on their careers.
Christina is in the midst of releasing her new ‘Lotus’ album and preparing to go on tour while Cee Lo will be working on new music and expanding his creative talents by developing a scripted comedy series based on his life.
“As I have expressed since day one of the show, that I am a singer and a performer first and I am so excited to get back to that,” the 31-year-old soulful R&B singer said in a NBC press release on Monday. “Since this year NBC and The Voice have decided to tape back-to-back seasons, requiring a full-year commitment, it is important for me to take season 4 off, allowing me to support my music that my fans have been waiting for… by pursuing my first passion of music during the break, I am able to come back and offer even more to my team on The Voice in the future.”
Aguilera went on to describe her experience on the show as “wonderful,” claiming her relationship with her fellow cast members “is like an extended family.”
Perhaps the most over the top and unpredictable coach on the show, Cee Lo, also took the time to comment on his hiatus from the show.
“First off, thank you NBC for supporting my decision to take this season four hiatus,” the “Forget You” singer commented in the same press release for NBC. “I will return for season 5 and will be watching season 4. NBC is home and as far as Usher and Shakira are concerned, mi casa su casa.”
The two bromancers of the show, Maroon 5’s lead singer Adam Levine and country star Blake Shelton, will still be around in those swiveling chairs for season 4 but recent reports suggest that The Voice may be overworking their superstar judges.
“I don’t know how much longer I’m even going to do it,” 36-year-old Blake Shelton told Access Hollywood. “It’s [NBC’s] decision [for us to leave], in that they’re the ones choosing to do back-to-back seasons. They really leave us no other option… at some point, I’ve got to go, ‘You know what, this is has been awesome. It’s changed my life, it’s not my life.’ I’ve got to get back to what I really do, and that’s country music.”
As for Shakira and Usher, NBC’s Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt released a statement saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Usher and Shakira to The Voice.”
For the other reality singing competition shows, the departure of original judges was only the beginning of their downward spiral as far as ratings are concerned, and only time will tell if this will hold true to The Voice as well.
