Jewel is joining NBC's a cappella group talent show The Sing-Off as a judge when it returns for its fourth season this December.

NBC announced Tuesday that Jewel will be replacing third season judge Sara Bareilles, who in turn replaced first and second season judge Nicole Scherzinger. Musician-turned-record producer Ben Folds and Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman are returning as judges. Paul Telegdy, NBCs president of alternative programming, expressed his excitement about the level of talent on this year's judging panel.

"There are very few musical artists as accomplished and talented as Jewel," Telegdy said Tuesday. "Her addition to The Sing-Off judges panel, along with our stellar team of Shawn Stockman and Ben Folds, raises the showmanship of the series up another notch."

Executive producer Mark Burnett is anticipating a good season with Jewel joining the panel.

"Jewel is one of America's greatest singer songwriters and is an amazing storyteller," Burnett said. "This season of The Sing-Off is sure to be its best yet."

Jewel is no stranger to singing-competition shows. The Grammy-nominated singer was a host and judge for Bravo's songwriting competition show Platinum Hit in 2011. She also hosted country-singing competition talent show Nashville Star in 2007 on the USA network.

In addition to Folds and Stockman, host Nick Lachey will also be returning to the show in December. Telegdy had nothing but praise for Lachey, who has hosted the show since the first season.

"The musical credentials of Nick Lachey are extraordinary and his continued contributions to the show as host remain a huge asset," he said.

The Sing-Off did not air in the 2012-2013 TV season, but NBC announced on March 13 that the show would be returning for a fourth season. Singing group Pentatonix, who won season 3 of the show in December 2011, released their first album PTX Volume 1 in July 2012. The record reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

The Sing-Off returns this December on NBC.

Watch Pentatonix's performance of Usher's Without You from season 3 of the show:

Tags: The Sing-Off jewel