The Black Eyed Peas continue to prove that the show must go on.
Although Fergie left the musical group in 2018 to focus on family, will.i.am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo have continued performing and growing the Peas with lead singer J. Rey Soul.
The musicians, however, made headlines on Sunday, January 19, when announcing they would no longer be performing their inaugural Las Vegas residency next month.
“To our dearest Peabodies,” their message read. “It is with a heavy heart that, in light of current circumstances, our Las Vegas shows will not be moving forward as planned. Ticket providers will issue full refunds automatically. Stay tuned for updates on future performances by following us — we can’t wait to see you again.”
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The residency, which was scheduled to take place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, would have also introduced an artificial intelligence presence named Vida as the newest member of the band.
As the Black Eyed Peas continue to navigate what’s next, keep reading to learn more about how the group adapted during changing times:
Who Was the Lead Singer of Black Eyed Peas Before Fergie?
When the Black Eyed Peas first formed in 1995, Kim Hill served as the group’s original lead singer.
In December 2019, Hill spoke out about leaving the group right before the Peas reached new heights in the music world.
“It just started to get clumsy and messy,” she said in an op-doc published by the New York Times. “You want me to grind on will.i.am in a bathing suit? That was being asked of me, never by the guys. That was happening from an executive level.”
Why Did Fergie Leave the Black Eyed Peas?
Although the Black Eyed Peas considered adding Nicole Scherzinger as a vocalist, they ultimately brought on Fergie in 2002. She sang on some of the group’s biggest hits including “Where Is The Love,” “Let’s Get It Started,” “I Gotta Feeling” and “Boom Boom Pow.”
Despite finding success with the group and her solo albums, Fergie chose to step away from music in 2017 to focus on being a mom to her son, Axl, with ex-husband Josh Duhamel.
“We love her, and she’s focusing on being a mom,” will.i.am explained to Billboard in June 2020. “That’s a hard job, and that’s what she really wants to do and we’re here for her. …It’s really the way Fergie designed it, so we’re respecting her design. We love Fergie, and we don’t want anything but awesomeness for her.”
Who Is the Black Eyed Peas Newest Singer J. Rey Soul?
After Soul appeared on the first season of The Voice: Philippines — where Apl.de.ap served as a judge — the Filipino-American singer joined the Black Eyed Peas in 2018.
“They’re like my big brothers and they’re like my mentors,” she told GQ UK in March 2024. “I was growing up in the Philippines and they’ve been together as long as I’ve been alive basically. At first when I joined in, it was really like, ‘Oh my god!’ because I’m a solo artist and they have their dynamic on stage. They’re just so in sync. I’m like, ‘How do I get into this?’”
With help from a choreographer, Soul quickly became comfortable on the world’s biggest stages and has been performing with the Peas ever since.
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What Has J. Rey Soul Accomplished in the Black Eyed Peas?
In 2020, Soul made her debut on the Black Eyed Peas album, Translation. One standout song from the body of work was the single “Mamacita,” which has earned more than 356 million views on YouTube.
At the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, the group won several awards including Crossover Artist of The Year and Latin Pop Artist of the Year.
Away from the stage, Soul has made a name for herself in the fashion game by attending both New York and Paris Fashion Week. She’s also been spotted at exclusive events for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin.
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