Singer Shakira pregnant with first child

LOS ANGELES, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Colombian singer Shakira

said on Wednesday she is expecting her first child, with her

Spanish soccer player boyfriend Gerard Pique.

"As some of you may know, Gerard and I are very happy

awaiting the arrival of our first baby! At this time we have

decided to give priority to this unique moment in our lives and

postpone all the promotional activities planned over the next

few days," Shakira, 35, wrote on her website.

The singer, who did not specify a due date, is bowing out of

a music festival in Las Vegas this weekend.

In the near future she will be juggling both motherhood and

work. Earlier this week the singer, along with R&B star Usher,

were confirmed to replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green

for the fourth season next year of NBC's hit singing contest

"The Voice."

Shakira burst onto the international pop scene with her 2006

single, "Hips Don't Lie."

Pique, 25, plays for FC Barcelona. The couple first met in

2010. This will be their first child.

(Reporting by Zorianna Kit, editing by Jill Serjeant and

Prudence Crowther)