Photo Courtesy Mark Seliger/NBC
Colombian superstar Shakira is leaving The Voice after just one season, citing her desire to focus on her own musical career and spend more time with her new baby, Milan. In an interview with E! Online, Shakira confirmed she was leaving NBC’s hit singing competition. “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,” she said. “And 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.”
As a mom, I know how difficult it is to juggle a career and family. We make things work but it requires sacrifices and compromises everyday. It may be that we have to forgo a networking event to be home with our kids or pass up a job opportunity, but the bottom line is that we have to make hard decisions all the time.
Shakira gave birth to son Milan Piqué Mebarak in January. The baby is only four months old and certainly she wants to enjoy more time with him. Poor Milan has more airline miles than a pilot, as per Shakira.
Former The Voice judge Christina Aguilera will take Shakira’s place. Aguilera hosted the first three seasons of The Voice and left the show last year to concentrate on the release of her seventh studio album, Lotus. And, apparently she also focused on losing weight as she debuted a slimmer body last week.
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Shakira’s move really doesn’t come as a surprise since she never intended to be a permanent replacement for original judge Aguilera. Rumor has it that the Latina star is not the only one to be leaving the show. Usher is also rumored to be stepping down, one season after joining the show. He will likely be replaced by Cee-Lo Green, which will bring The Voice back to its four original judges.
Shakira’s final episode of The Voice airs June 18. What do you think of her decision?
