Rihanna Joins NBC’s ‘The Voice’ As Key Advisor For Season 9

Rihanna may be hard at work on her eighth studio album, but it looks like the “Diamonds” singer is taking on yet another exciting project.

NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt announced today at the TCA Press Tour in Beverly Hills that Rihanna will serve as an advisor to judges Gwen Stefani, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Pharrell Williams for Season 9 of The Voice, E! News confirms.

“We landed Rihanna to be the key advisor to all the coaches this fall,” Greenblatt told reporters during the press tour. “This is one of music’s true supervisors coming on board to influence the lives and careers of the performers.”

The news of Rihanna’s involvement in Season 9 of The Voice comes on the heels of reports that suggest Christina Aguilera will be returning to the show for Season 10.

“Right now, she’s focusing on being a mom and new music,” a source revealed of Aguilera’s decision to skip out on Season 9 before confirming her return for Season 10.

Judges Levine and Shelton have served on the show since its start in 2011, while Williams will be marking his third consecutive season on the hit show this year. While Stefani joined the show at the same time as Williams, the former No Doubt singer sat out during Season 8 while Aguilera made a brief return to The Voice earlier this year.

As Rihanna prepares for her new television gig on The Voice, the songstress is also reportedly hard at work on completing her eighth studio album, reportedly titled R8.

Rihanna has made headlines over the past few weeks regarding the delay of her highly-anticipated album, with rumors suggesting that Rihanna is hoping for a fall release for the new project.

Meanwhile, The Voice judges Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are making headlines for their return to the NBC hit show, following the news of their respective divorces.

Stefani filed for divorce from husband Gavin Rossdale earlier this month after 13 years of marriage, while Shelton announced his divorce from Miranda Lambert in a joint statement released in July following their four-year long marriage.

A source from the set of The Voice reveals to Us Weekly that Stefani and Shelton are handling the news of their divorces differently while taping the Battle Rounds of Season 9.

“Gwen seems sad,” the witness reveals of Stefani’s demeanor during the taping of the new season.

“Blake, on the other hand, seems to have moved on from Miranda and is just over it. Neither Blake nor Gwen are wearing their rings,” the source further explains.

With Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani remaining in the headlines for their respective divorces and Rihanna serving as an advisor for the upcoming season, will Season 9 be The Voice‘s best yet?

[Image Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images]