R&B star John Legend has stepped in to replace Lionel Richie as a TV judge on a new reality show.

The veteran "Hello" hitmaker signed on to front Duets with former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, soul star Robin Thicke and country singer Jennifer Nettles in March, but Richie has since had to pull out of the project due to scheduling conflicts, according to GossipCop.com.

TV bosses then turned to Legend to fill Richie's shoes and his addition to the program's judging panel was announced on Monday.

The "Get Lifted" singer says, "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."

The series, which premieres on May 24, will see the four stars search for singers to be their duet partner, and each week will feature a performance in front of a studio audience. The eventual winner will be given a contract with Hollywood Records.