Katy Perry caused a bit of a Firework on Monday night, revealing on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that this upcoming season of “American Idol” will be her last one as a judge.
Perry was a guest on Monday night’s “Kimmel.” When the host asked Perry how much longer she would stick with “Idol” — she’s been on the show for seven seasons, ever since it moved to ABC in 2018 — the singer said she was plotting her exit after this upcoming season. Perry said she was set to perform in this June’s “Rock in Rio” festival — but beyond that, she’s ready to move on.
“I love ‘Idol’ so much, it’s connected me with the heart of America,” she told Kimmel. “But I feel like I need to go out to feel that pulse of my own beat.”
Perry joined the show with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, and together the three have been judges on the ABC incarnation of “Idol” since it moved to the Alphabet network. But when asked whether Bryan and Richie knew she was leaving, Perry admitted that “they’ll find out tonight.”
Is there a plan for Perry’s replacement? It doesn’t sound like anything is in place just yet. Perry noted that she, Bryan and Richie will now match the seven-season stint of original “American Idol” judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson,” who helped launch the show on Fox in 2002. (Technically, the trio stayed for eight seasons, but they were joined in Season 8 by a fourth judge: Kara DioGuardi.)
“I love the show so much but I want to see the world,” Perry said. “Maybe I’ll come back if they have me one day.”
Here’s Perry on Monday night’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live”:
