Christina Aguilera Will Return to THE VOICE, Shakira to Depart

Christina Aguilera will officially reclaim her spinning judge's chair on the next season of The Voice - forcing out freshman mentor Shakira in the process, Deadline has confirmed.

An insider with "knowledge of the deal" told The Wrap that the former judge, who stepped away to promote her album LOTUS, will return in the fall - for a hefty sum of $17 million. The source also claims that the ink on Aguilera's deal has been dry for months, though it's unclear at this time whether Cee-Lo Green, who also left in the fall, will return or not.

Both Aguilera and Green have been expected to return for the next season, but replacement judges Shakira and Usher have resonated with audiences, and created a fresh rapport on NBC's singing competition, also featuring Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. In April, the show hit an all-new high in the ratings.

In October, Aguilera threw some doubt on the subject, telling Access Hollywood: "We'll see where everything goes. But I definitely know that I have to step away from it for a second so that I can regenerate my own artistry and get back to what my ultimate love is."

What do you think? Are you glad Aguilera's on her way back to THE VOICE? Or would you rather Shakira and Usher stick around as permanent replacements?

For the original announcement, head on over to The Wrap. For Deadline's confirmation of Shakira's departure, click here.

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