Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira and rapper Usher joined the panel of spinning red chairs on the set of NBC's "The Voice" on Monday. While CNN reported that the key demographic ratings are down slightly from the 2012 premiere featuring Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera alongside present judges Blake Shelton and Adam Levine, the contest gained even more footing among adult viewers.
Entertainment Weekly cites that Shakira and Usher's debut did not follow the Super Bowl as last year's premiere did. The extra advertising and viewership in the days leading up to the 2012 debut may have a lot to do with its initial performance.
The main competition for "The Voice": FOX's "American Idol" premiered with a higher rating but is "higher than every "Idol" episode since January.
Green and Aguilera, who is half Ecuadorean, have been compared to the new duo, composed similarly of an African-American songwriter and a Latina songstress. MTV said Shakira appeared "fun and feisty," not unlike Aguilera's past appearances.
Shakira originally got her first shot at a record deal at age 13. Three years later, Shakira performed at a Chilean music festival and was recognized as a young talent by musician Ricky Martin, a judge at the pageant. In kind, Shakira said she wanted to "be a coach on 'The Voice' to help someone else achieve their own dreams."
A smooth-talking Usher later convinced 21-year-old Texan Jess Kellner to join his team after Shakira similarly praised the young woman's talent.
"Do you want to last forever?" Usher asked. "Then rock with me."
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