Usher and Shakira will join The Voice US judging panel in the spring.

The R&B singer and the Latin pop superstar will take the place of Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green as panelists on the TV talent competition.

Christina is releasing an album and going on tour during that time. Cee Lo is creating new music and will also begin work on a TV series based on his life for NBC.

The Voice executives are elated to have Shakira and Usher on the programme.

"We are thrilled to welcome Usher and Shakira to The Voice," NBC network chairman Robert Greenblatt wrote in a statement to USA Today.

"The addition of these popular iconic artists continues the tradition established by Christina, Cee Lo, Adam and Blake. Doing two back-to-back cycles of this show requires a tremendous amount of time, and we are happy to accommodate the commitments made by Christina and Cee Lo. The participants on our show benefit from our coaches' expertise and their continued success in the music business allows for significant new contributions to the contestants when they return."

Current judges Blake Shelton and Adam Levine will be returning for The Voice season four.