Katy Perry has bid farewell to American Idol.
The “Dark Horse” hitmaker revealed her departure from the judge’s panel during a February 2024 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, confirming that the 22nd season of the reality singing competition would be her last.
“I mean I love Idol so much,” Perry shared with Kimmel. “It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat.”
Her exit came as a surprise to many fans, who had grown fond of her extravagant outfits and her constant encouragement for contestants to keep pushing forward. Perry joined the ABC revival of American Idol in 2018 alongside fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie — who, in an interview with PEOPLE in April 2024, described their relationship as a “little family.”
“I think as it goes on, Luke and I will probably get together and realize that we’re going to kidnap her,” Richie joked, referring to Perry’s exit.
In her final episode, Perry performed “What Makes a Woman” with contestant Jack Blocker. She wore a striking gown featuring the faces of 160 former contestants, later sharing a photo of the performance on Instagram with the caption, “There it is… 7 years.”
The season following Perry’s departure premiered on March 9.
Why Did Katy Perry Leave American Idol?
Perry revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that her decision to leave was driven by a desire to focus on other projects, including potential new music.
“I’ve been in the studio for a while so [Richie and Bryan] figured something is coming,” she said. “I love the show so much but I wanna go and see the world and maybe bring new music.”
True to her word, in July 2024, Perry released the single “Woman’s World” from her upcoming album 143, which hit shelves the following September.
Who Is Replacing Katy Perry on American Idol?
In August 2024, Good Morning America announced that country superstar Carrie Underwood would be joining the judging panel, replacing Perry. Underwood, who won American Idol in 2005, described returning to the show 20 years later as “coming home.”
“There’s so many people that even still work on the show that were there when I was a contestant,” Underwood shared. “I feel like being on both sides of the coin, hopefully I’ll be able to offer some insight.”
Perry had nothing but praise for Underwood, telling PEOPLE in January 2025 that the country singer was “born” to be on the show, given her firsthand experience as a former contestant.
Who Are the Judges for American Idol Season 23?
For Season 23, Underwood will join longtime judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie at the judge’s table. The seasoned mentors have already started teaching the country singer the ropes.
“Early in the tapings, Carrie didn’t know that you could start telling the contestants what to sing,” Bryan said during a March 2025 appearance on Good Morning America. “So the fun part about that is when you really see something magical in a kid and the other two judges may not, but you can really take ownership of this one particular contestant.”
He added, “It’s been really fun watching her learn stuff like that and we’re just having a blast with the talent. It’s really awesome this year.”
When Is American Idol Coming Back?
Season 23 of American Idol premiered on March 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with new episodes also available to stream on Hulu.
What Is Katy Perry Doing Now?
Since wrapping up her final American Idol episode in May 2024, Perry has shifted her focus to her music career. In September 2024, she released her highly anticipated seventh studio album and, in January 2025, announced a North American tour.
“I will be introducing people to a few new songs, and I’m calling it the Lifetimes Tour because I’m celebrating the whole lifetime of songs thus far,” Perry told PEOPLE. “There’s costume changes, acts, dancers, musicians… I’ll fly around the room. There’s no bad seat in the house. I’m going to get close to everyone at some point.”
Her tour promises to be a spectacle, and fans can’t wait to experience it live.
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