Will.i.am Walks Away from AMERICAN IDOL Negotiations to Return to THE VOICE U.K.

Will.i.am has walked away from AMERICAN IDOL negotiations in order to return for a second season as a judge on the U.K.'s edition of THE VOICE, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The former BLACK EYED PEAS lead will join previous judge Tom Jones for the upcoming season. Kylie Minogue is also expected to join the panel after Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue confirmed in July that they would not return.

Since it was announced that Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj, and Mariah Carey would exit AMERICAN IDOL, Will.i.am has been a favorite to join the panel. IDOL's next slate of judges is still developing, with Keith Urban officially set, and former judge Jennifer Lopez also expected to sign on. Her boyfriend, Casper Smart, inadvertenly announced Lopez would return over the weekend - though Fox has yet to make an official announcement.

As BWW reported yesterday, negotiations with Will.i.am. had reportedly stalled, and Fox execs had turned to Dr. Luke, the former lead guitarist SNL's band turned mega-producer, to fill the third chair.

For The Hollywood Reporter's original announcement, click here.

A seven-time Grammy Award-winner, will.i.am is known not only for his work with The Black Eyed Peas, who have sold 31 million albums and 58 million singles worldwide, but also for his work with some of the entertainment industry's biggest names, including Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Usher, David Guetta and film composer Hans Zimmer. Recognized and honored by numerous industry organizations, will.i.am is the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, a CLIO Award, two NAACP Image Awards, a VH1 Do Something Award, the BMI President's Award and a 2008 Webby Award.