Pharrell to join judge panel on The Voice

NEW YORK — Pharrell Williams has been announced as a coach on the next season of the American edition of The Voice. The Happy hitmaker will slot into the show for its seventh series, due to air this autumn.

“This is going to be so fun,” Williams tweeted yesterday afternoon (April 1).

Fun as it may be, the announcement adds another major obligation to Williams’ jam-packed 2014: The show’s tapings will have to fit alongside Williams’ production work, fashion consulting, his score for the Amazing Spider-Man 2, and any promotion or touring plans for his recent released album, G I R L.

Williams has previously appeared on The Voice as a performer and also as an adviser to Usher’s artists during series four.

“It’s been a huge year for Pharrell,” NBC President Paul Telegdy said in a statement. “His dominance in record sales this year, coupled with his incomparable accomplishments in the world of fashion and design, make him an irresistible addition to The Voice family ... It feels like we are welcoming an existing family member home.”

Series six of The Voice US is airing now, with Adam Levine and Blake Shelton panellists since series one and Shakira and Usher relatively new replacements for Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green, the latter of which has recently confirmed his permanent departure: “I have so many other things that I want to do,” he told E News. “I haven’t released an album in four years.”

Although it has not yet been confirmed, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Pharrell will replace Green.

In addition to the current lineup, Monday night’s episode of The Voice also saw Chris Martin make his debut as a guest mentor.

NBC said they will confirm the rest of The Voice’s future coaches at a later date. GUARDIAN