John Legend to Replace Lionel Richie on Duets

By On 04/30/2012 · 35 Comments · In Duets, Kelly Clarkson

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Lionel Richie has dropped out of the ABC reality series Duets. He’ll be replaced by singer/songwriter, John Legend who will join Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles and Robin Thicke as one of the judges.

Lionel dropped out, due to personal scheduling issues. Recently, he was a guest mentor on The Voice during the battle rounds and has released an album of country duets, Tuskegee.

The quartet will search the country for undiscovered musical talent, ultimately choosing between two singers to be their partners. The show will culminate with one partner receiving a recording contract from Hollywood Records.

Kelly was out on the road testing out potential duet partners earlier this  month.

“I’m thrilled to be part of Duets and I’m looking forward to finding an undiscovered gem out there. This is going be a lot of fun,” said Legend.

Former Total Request Live host Quddus will host Duets,  set to debut May 24 at 8 p.m.

Via Hollywood Reporter

Duets promo. Now out of date, of course

 
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  • Anonymous

    Agreed. Kelly will be awesome on this show, and the other three are also awesome.

  • http://twitter.com/BobbiNJ Bobbi

    Couldn’t agree more, Spenser! Respect is due.

  • http://twitter.com/BobbiNJ Bobbi

    Nice to hear, Tess! I do the same thing. At least that way, if they ever appear on their generation’s Idol, they won’t stand there like dummies, not knowing who Neil Diamond is! The lack of pop music historical knowledge in the younger kids astounds me. I miss the contestants like Taylor, Elliot, Blake and so many more who not only knew, but revered many of those that had come before them.    

  • http://twitter.com/lufflyness Jenna

    Their radio markets do overlap, but I think their fanbases are quite different. Thicke seems stay more within that R&B niche, while Legend’s more fusion-y sound has given him more crossover appeal. Even though he is more of a neo-soul type singer, I see him get grouped with people like Jason Mraz a lot, who similarly doesn’t have a lot of crossover hits (save I’m Yours) but tons of wide recognition among younger audiences.

  • Anonymous

    Ah, now I feel better :).  When my kids were babies (they’re 11 & 8 now), and I would drive them to the baby-sitter on my way to work, we did the history of great American music.  I made cd’s for each decade, starting about in the 40′s.  We’d do one decade each week, then when we got to the end of the 2000 CD, we’d start over.  

    My dad was a musician and my mom lived and died by Motown, so my brother and I knew the words to every Four Tops song before we were 3.  I wanted to give my kids that same history.  And, they know who Neil Diamond is!  (The classic rock loving Mr. Spens is a HUGE, closet Neil Diamond fan LOL).  And of course, I always got excited when we got to the 80′s so I could explain to them how Madonna RULES :).

    So, funny story…. my 11 year old comes home from a friend’s house to ask to download this great song his friend found onto his iPod.  He searches for the song and finds it and hands it to me to type in the password and guess what it is?  Freaking Vanilla Ice LOL.  I guess the moral to the story is that sometimes the kids discovering old music is not always a good thing!  I’m now in my second phase of living through ICE ICE Baby.  

    (And, my apologies to mj for completely derailing the thread!)

  • http://twitter.com/lufflyness Jenna

    I personally don’t consider Lionel Richie a has been or anything and definitely have a lot of respect for his career, but as someone that wasn’t even alive during his prime, I’m not going to prefer watching him over someone more current purely because he sold 100 million record 20 years ago and the other didn’t. I mean I love listening to his hits from that time and think he is still a great performer, but right now, I connect more with someone that is part of my generation and I have been able to see enter the industry and can actively follow.

  • Anonymous

    Personally I would much prefer Lionel Richie as I really can’t stand John Legend at all.  There’s just something about his affected type of singing that annoys me.  Also Lionel Richie looks like he could be the dad of my high school sweetheart, so every time I see him I sorta have that lovesick puppy look on my face.  He has aged well, and I love his earlier work with the Commodores, so there’s where my allegiance is.  Anyway, I will still watch because of Kelly and Robin.

    Oh yeah, Legend is only that in name.  Lionel is a legend, period.  No trade up at all.  

  • Anonymous

    I loved a derailed thread, lol!

  • Allison

    Getting a younger, current guy? Makes the show sound better already.

  • Allison

     great story, Spenser. I love when kids discover stuff you were into. Not Ice, Ice, Baby, but you get my drift.

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