STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Usher Leaving The Voice After One Season

R&B star nixes reality gig for new acting role.

The situation over at The Voice is turning into a game of musical chairs. Usher is said to be the latest judge to step down from the gig, one season after joining the show.
He will reportedly walk to focus on his budding acting career. "Usher is doing a movie, so he couldn't do season five if they wanted him to," a source told Us Weekly.
The 34-year-old is prepping for a role as boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, which he will play opposite Robert DeNiro in the forthcoming flick Hands of Stone.
Usher's exit comes on the heels of fellow judge Shakira leaving, also after a single season. "It was a hard decision for me to make, because I'm really fond of the coaches, the people in production and everybody around me," the new mom told E! News. "I really enjoyed The Voice, but I also have a musical career and I'm also a mother now and my poor baby's so tired flying such long distances. He already has more miles than any pilot. So I think I have to give him a little break, and we'll see what happens in the future."
Shakira gave birth to son Milan Piqué Mebarak in January. Her judging seat will be re-filled by Christina Aguilera, who, like Cee Lo Green, took a brief hiatus to tend to other career commitments. Aguilera is said to be negotiating a $12 million deal to reclaim her spot.
Green will come back to The Voice as a guest mentor next week, and is also rumored to be in talks for a season five return.

Get ready for the BET Experience, featuring Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Go here for more details and info on how to buy tickets. Register now to attend free film screenings, celebrity basketball games and more.

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.        

(Photo: Jon Ricard/BET)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.