"The Voice" just announced its Season 8 coaches - and there's a shakeup.
The coaching panel for the next season includes three-fourths of the current panel, plus one of the original coaches who has taken the past couple seasons off.
As usual, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton are returning - they haven't missed a season yet, and it looks like that won't be changing anytime soon. But joining them next season will be current newbie coach Pharrell Williams, who has received high praise during his short time on "The Voice" so far, and original coach Christina Aguilera, reports buddytv.com.
Christina's previous stint as a coach was back in Season 5.
The pairings for the two middle spots on the coaching panel have been Aguilera and Cee Lo Green, Shakira and Usher, and Gwen Stefani and Pharrell. This will be the first time the show has brought on coaches from different pairings. Also of note, Pharrell is doing two seasons back to back, which only the original coaches have done.
This announcement means that Stefani will be taking at least one season off. While there's no official reason for this, it's likely because she will be working on a new album, but it wouldn't be surprising if she stopped by next season to promote her music.
Not everyone is happy that the Season 8 coaches will be familiar faces.
"I'm hoping the show will mix things up sometime and have two women and two men or three women and one guy. I can give them a few suggestions of who I'd like to see in the red chair if they need some help," comments nashvilllegab.com.
As for "The Voice" coach not mentioned yet, it's unclear when Usher will return, notes buddytv.com. He was a coach during Seasons 4 and 6. During his most recent season last spring, one of the singers on his team, Josh Kaufman, won, the first time anybody other than Adam or Blake has done so
"The Voice" Season 7 airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.
