American Idol used to be the biggest name in vocal talent shows, and its changing of hosts from season to season also used to be the most gripping between the voice competitions. The show might still have the crown for most-watched (which is ultimately all producers care about), but The Voice may be replacing it as the go-to for judge gossip. The most recent rumor to come out regarding the lineup for next season of NBC's competition is that Gwen Stefani will be replacing current judge Christina Aguilera.
Stefani has signed a one-year contract, according to anonymous sources at NBC. Christina Aguilera, the show's current female judge (we're not saying there can't be two female judges...that just seems to be how NBC is playing it) announced during February that she was pregnant and wouldn't be rejoining the show during Season 7 as planned. That season will begin shooting in June, and it stands to reason that the network would scramble to find a replacement.
"(Stefani's) contract is now done," said the source at the network.
This won't be the first shakeup that the traditional Voice lineup has undergone in preparation for next season. Cee Lo Green announced earlier in the year that he wouldn't be returning for Season 7, and NBC quickly named Pharrell Williams as his replacement for the next season. Green had starred for the show's first three seasons, took Season 4 off, and then jumped back in for Season 5.
Green and Aguilera have been replaced by the same duo during both of the seasons they missed: Usher and Shakira, respectively. Again, there's no word on whether Aguilera will be back yet, although she's slotted to host Seasons 8 and 9. The honchos at NBC will probably wait until Stefani has at least one season under her belt before they make any formal announcement whether she or Shakira would be next in line. Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine has yet to miss a season, and Season 9 will mark the first break for Blake Shelton, who will be replaced by Usher for that run.
