via Instagram

Black Eyed Peas fans can say goodbye to the groups leading lady, as it has officially been confirmed that Fergie has parted ways with the fellas.

will.i.am finally confirmed her departure during an interview with Ahlan! today (June 1) and although he says she will not be replaced, he did confirm the other rumors that Nicole Scherzinger will be lending vocals to the new BEP album.

“Since the beginning of Black Eyed Peas, we’ve always had amazing vocalists that appeared on the mic with us,” he explained. “People like Macy Gray, Esthero, Debi Nova, Fergie. On Elephunk, there were several females that appeared on that album. Obviously Fergie was the featured female, but on songs like ‘Let’s Get it Started,’ it’s Noelle [Scaggs], and then Fergie, songs like ‘Latin Girls,’ it’s Debi Nova, and ‘Request Line,’ it’s Macy Gray. We’ll always work with good females.”

“Nobody is replacing Fergie,” he said. “She’s working on her solo project at the moment, we’re on this brand-new experience, celebrating 20 years of Black Eyed Peas putting out music. We worked on a bunch of songs on her solo record, we’re proud that she has her label, but Black Eyed Peas are pushing it forward in terms of content, technology and experiences on our new [graphic novel] project, Masters of the Sun — The Zombie Chronicles.”

“Nicole is on the new BEP project as well,” will said. “I don’t want to go into details how she’s involved yet.”

The news comes just shortly after it was announced that Fergie was starting her own imprint, Dutchess Music, after leaving will.i.am Music Group under Interscope Records. It will be on her own label where she releases her new album, ‘Double Dutchess,’ her first album in 11 years, is due this summer.