Usher and Shakira to replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green on The Voice

Usher and Shakira are set to replace Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera for The Voice Season 4 which airs in the spring 2013, reports THR. Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will stay on as coaches for Season 4.

How exciting! I love Usher. This is going to be a great panel to go against a revived American Idol panel.

From THR:

Shakira and Usher have closed deals to join the spring edition of NBC’s The Voice.

Shakira and Usher will replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green. Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will return for the fourth cycle. Aguilera, who is working on a new album to be released in November, has made no secret of her desire to make more time for her music.

Aguilera is also heading back out on tour in support of her new album, Lotus. Meanwhile, Green has a scripted comedy based on his life in development at NBC.

“We are thrilled to welcome Usher and Shakira to The Voice," Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in press release announcing the move. “The addition of these popular iconic artists continues the tradition established by Christina, CeeLo, Adam and Blake. Doing two back-to-back cycles of this show requires a tremendous amount of time, and we are happy to accommodate the commitments made by Christina and CeeLo. The participants on our show benefit from our coaches’ expertise and their continued success in the music business allows for significant new contributions to the contestants when they return.”

Both Aguilera and Green are expected to return for the show’s fifth cycle next fall.
“Being a coach on The Voice is a wonderful experience and the relationship amongst us all is like an extended family,” added Aguilera. “I am so proud of being part of the show from the beginning, all the work we've done, and proud of what the show stands for as a whole. As I have expressed since day one of the show, that I am a singer and performer first and I am so excited to get back to that love. 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 four off, allowing me to support my music that my fans have been waiting for.”

Added Green: “It’s great to also give a host of other talent the chance to experience what a joy it is to be part of what is truly THE BEST SHOW of them all, THE VOICE! I will return for season five and will be watching season four. NBC is home and as far as Usher and Shakira are concerned – ‘mi casa su casa.’”