Christina Aguileras Voice Hiatus: Tour Takes Priority

Christina Aguilera wants her fans to know that she wont be slacking when it comes time to tour and promote her new album, Lotus, even if it means giving up her job on The Voice for a season. The album drops November 13th, and since the talent competition is filming back-to-back seasons, Aguilera is taking the next cycle off to concentrate on the release and tour.

Being a coach on The Voice is a wonderful experience and the relationship amongst us all is like an extended family, Aguilera said. As I have expressed since day one of the show, that I am a singer and performer first and I am so excited to get back to that love. Since this year NBC and The Voice have decided to tape back-to-back seasons, requiring a full-year commitment, it is important for me to take Season 4 off, allowing me to support my music that my fans have been waiting for.

Cee Lo Green will also be taking that cycle off to work on his own music and to develop a series for NBC based on his life. Filling in for the two stars will be Usher and Shakira, which has sparked rumors that Aguilera and Green are leaving permanently, but producers insist that isnt so.

They all have to tour, Mark Burnett said. We knew it from the beginning, and they told us and told me. I sat down with all of them individually before we started the show. They told me, You have to realize our priority is records and tours and shows. And this is a fourth thing on our list.

As for Aguileras new album, she says shes gone back to her root! s, but the tracks had some help from a few big names, such as Sia, Alex Da Kid, and Cee Lo himself.

This album is about self-expression and freedom, Aguilera said. There is a lot I have gone through personally over the past few years and this record represents a rebirth for me. The record is about freedom and getting back to the root of who I am and what I love to do.