Usher’s dark new ‘Looking for Myself’ promo pic.

‘The Voice’ is known for it’s famous coaches and not for generating chart-topping artists so it is no surprise that the producers of the show are keen to keep the panel brimming with star power. Indeed, now that Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green have announced a temporary leave from the show, Usher and Shakira have been tapped as their replacements.

Usher and Shakira will assume coaching duties for the fourth season of ‘The Voice’, which will launch in early 2013. The decision was made after Aguilera announced the specifics of her ‘Lotus’ album campaign. “Since 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 with the release of my new album ‘Lotus’ on November 13th,” claimed the diva.

Cee Lo is also readying new music for his fans later this year. The colourful singer will issue his ‘Cee Lo’s Magic Moment’ Holiday album on October 30th but insisted that he will return to ‘The Voice’ the the series’ fifth season when he has the time to properly focus on the show. Meanwhile, nobody has expressed concern that ‘The Voice’ has yet to put forward a commercially successful contestant.

Thoughts?