The Voice Bringing Back Christina Aguilera for Season 8

NBC's reality singing competition is bringing the original coach back for the new season

By Chris Harnick Oct 14, 2014 2:12 PMTags
Christina Aguilera, The VoiceTrae Patton/NBC

Christina Aguilera is returning to The Voice. Aguilera and Pharrell Williams will serve as coaches for season eight of the hit reality show, alongside Blake Shelton and Adam Levine. Shelton and Levine have been with the show since the beginning, while Aguilera served as an original coach and took seasons four, six and seven off.  During her off seasons, Shakira and Gwen Stefani replaced the Gammy winner.

Aguilera welcomed her second child, daughter Summer Rain Rutler, in August.

The Voice host Carson Daly made the announcement on NBC's Today Tuesday.

"We are excited to welcome Christina back to her red chair and can't wait to see how she mixes things up among Adam, Blake and Pharrell, in what will be an incredibly competitive competition," Paul Telegdy, president of alternative and late night programming at NBC Entertainment, said in a statement. "These four talented artists are at the top of their game as musicians and as coaches. The mentoring is sure to be intense and the stakes will be high."

Williams joined the show during the current season, season seven, along with Stefani. Previous coaches include Usher and Cee Lo Green. Green was part of the original cast, but has said his time with The Voice is over.

Season seven of The Voice is currently in Battle Rounds with mentors Alicia Keys, Stevie Nicks, Little Big Town and Gavin Rossdale. When the show goes into Knockout Rounds, Taylor Swift will be the mentor for all four teams.

Over the seven seasons, Levine's team has won twice, Shelton's three times and Usher once. Aguilera has never coached a Voice champion. In season five, a member of Aguilera's team, Jacquie Lee, came in second.

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)