Music

Shakira And Usher To Replace Aguilera And Cee Lo On "The Voice"

by Dave Hodgson

We told you last week that Christina Aguilera would be leaving “The Voice” at the conclusion of this season to focus on an album and tour. Now, it appears that Cee Lo Green’s baby arms will be waving goodbye along with her. And taking their places in the big turny chairs will be Usher and Shakira.

The show recently announced that instead of taking time off between seasons, they’re going year-round. This is hardly surprising news, since NBC’s other winning programming options are Bumbling New Fathers Show #114 and Doomed Matthew Perry Project #66. But it did make it somewhat unlikely that all the judges would be able commit the time. While Adam Levine and Blake “Token Country Guy” Shelton will stick around, it will test the show’s staying power, as we’ll now truly be able to determine whether viewers enjoy the unique format, or if they’re just watching to see what kind of animal is sitting on Cee Lo Green.

The timing couldn’t be better for Usher, who’s likely looking to rehabilitate his image after a very public divorce and claims that he was an “absentee father” after his stepson died in a jet-ski accident. Yes, that happened in real life, and not a daytime soap opera. Meanwhile, Shakira will be afforded the opportunity to become the first reality show judge to communicate entirely through hip shakes. Twelve shakes means “great job!,” eighteen means “needs work.”

And what will Cee Lo Green be doing with his radical sabbatical? According to the musician he’ll be recording a new solo album, working with his old compatriots Goodie Mob, launching a Las Vegas show called “Loberace,” and a memoir in collaboration with – wait! Nope, we’re not just whizzing past “Loberace.”

“This truly unique, new show designed exclusively for Planet Hollywood will be an electrifying journey into the world of CeeLo’s brainchild, “LOBERACE,” playing off the Vegas icon Liberace. More of a spectacle than a show, CeeLo, the conductor/ringmaster “LOBERACE,” will take fans on a ride through the colorful decades of music, stopping at legendary moments in time, from Prince to Blue Magic to The Rolling Stones, new wave to disco and beyond.”

More a spectacle than a show! I can’t count cards, so finally there’s a reason to go to Las Vegas.