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Was Shakira a Judge on ‘The Voice’? Look Back at the Singer’s Departure After Her Coaching Runs
The Voice is notorious for switching out major music artists in the red mentor chairs ever since the season 1 debut on NBC in 2011. Latin superstar Shakira was one of the celebrities who landed a role as a judge in the singing competition in the earlier seasons.
Was Shakira a Judge on ‘The Voice’?
Shakira was technically a coach on seasons 4 and 6 of the show, but fans refer to the coaches as judges as well because they offer critiques.
The “Waka Waka” singer made her Voice coaching debut during season 4 when she and Usher replaced CeeLo Green and Christina Aguilera. Shakira and Usher joined The Voice alongside veterans Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.
“Besides being a singer, I’m also a producer and writer. Once I’m in the recording studio, I am so hands-on,” the “She Wolf” hitmaker said ahead of the season 4 premiere in January 2012, per CNN. “While I’m coaching my team I tend to focus on the detail. I don’t know if it’s maybe because of the female condition, but men are more focused on the general aspects, and women tend to sort of focus on details a lot. And so when I’m giving directions to my contestants I’m particularly focused on details.”
Shakira didn’t win the finale as Team Blake’s Danielle Bradbery was crowned the winner.
The Colombia native took a break the following season after she and former partner Gerard Piqué welcomed their first child, son Milan in January 2013. However, she came back and better as a coach during season 6 alongside her season 4 comentors.
A few of Team Shakira contestants chatted with Showbiz Junkies ahead of season 6 and gushed over the beloved musician’s coaching style.
“You know, Shakira is, her presence in her coach’s chair is incredible and I think that’s what lured us in in the first place to go with her,” Clarissa Serna told the outlet in March 2014. “She has a beautiful presence about herself, the way that she carries herself knowing that she has this intense following all around the world. Her presence is just very peaceful and kind and compassionate and I think that’s what drew us in.”
Why Did Shakira Leave ‘The Voice’?
The “Hips Don’t Lie” artist exited the series after season 6 to focus on raising Milan.
“[I was] really struggling with the fact that I had to leave my nest with my little baby,” Shakira told Access Hollywood at the time.
Would Shakira Return to ‘The Voice’?
After leaving The Voice, Shakira welcomed her youngest son, Sasha Piqué Mebarak, on January 29, 2015. Needless to say, motherhood has since become her prime focus in life.
“No, I wouldn’t [go back], because it’s so hard to be away from my family,” Shakira revealed to Entertainment Tonight in May 2017. “Right now, [I’m] back into making music, and I’m gonna be going on tour pretty soon at the end of the year. I miss all that.”
Nonetheless, Shakira had a “great experience” on The Voice and missed the bond she, Blake, Usher and Adam created.
“They were a lot of fun to talk to, but I wouldn’t go back,” she continued to the outlet.
“I used to be the center of my universe, the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, and now I’m a satellite of my kids,” Shakira later said. “I completely revolve around them. They’re the center of my universe and my biggest priority in life is to make sure they feel loved and that they will become good people, great human beings. That’s my number one goal and then everything else is secondary.”
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