Katy Perry Is Saying Goodbye To ‘American Idol’… ‘For Now’

The ‘Dark Horse’ singer has been with the show for seven years, judging and mentoring thousands of singers across America. However, that has ended, as she said it is time to step away.

“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for ‘Idol,'” she told Kimmel in February. “I mean, I love ‘Idol’ so much. I know. 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. You know what I’m saying, Jimmy?”

She has now confirmed the news and revealed she will not return to the singing competition show next season.

Perry spoke to the ‘Good Morning America’ anchors in an interview that aired on Friday, April 12, expressing that while being a judge on ‘Idol’ has “healed my heart,” it is time to say goodbye.

But what caught viewers’ attention was when the ‘E.T.’ artist said she was saying goodbye “for now,” hinting that her exit may only be temporary. While it is unclear when (or if) Perry will return to the singing competition show, she has one request for whoever takes her place.

“Keep my seat warm,” she said.

“I feel so connected to America that I want to go out there again and sing and play music and hold their hands and [tour] and bring my daughter and show her and all that stuff,” she told ‘GMA.’

The ‘I Kissed A Girl’ singer explained how the contestants impact all three judges year after year. “[The contestants] also remind us about the fight, because we can get a little bit, you know, complacent here or there, but then they give us that energy again,” she added.

Last year, Perry spoke to USA TODAY, expressing how close she gets with the ‘Idol’ contestants and how she continuously follows up on their progress after they leave the show.

“I look them up on Instagram all the time,” she revealed. “Some of them get this big shot and momentum, and then some of them just gradually grow. And then all of a sudden, like three years later, they’re really tracking in the real world. It’s fun to watch them grow. And not a lot, but a few of the contestants have our (phone) numbers. We like to mentor them off on the side; we really care.”

Earlier this week, ‘American Idol’ judge Luke Bryan appeared on the radio show ‘Taste of Country Nights’ where he opened up about his co-star’s exit.

“I had heard whispers that she was thinking about [leaving], it wasn’t like a huge shock,” he said when on air. “It’s been a good run with Katy, and she and I have developed a great friendship. And to work alongside her, I mean, heck, I was there before her daughter was born, and now her daughter is three or four years old.”

He added, “Just seeing her be a mother through this whole process … I mean, it’s just really been fun getting to know Katy.”

The ‘Play It Again’ artist said they built a strong friendship during their time on ‘Idol’ and Perry “knows that no matter what her next endeavors are, she can pick up the phone and call me and check in and say ‘Hey.'”

Last year, the ‘American Idol’ judges spoke with USA TODAY about their relationship with one another. “We can actually say things to each other and not take it personally,” Richie told the outlet in December 2023. “The first season, we were all [kind of] tiptoeing around, [making] sure ‘I don’t want to offend you. You don’t want to offend me.’”

Perry then added, “I think the only person that talks to Lionel like I do is his daughter.”

Bryan chimed in, claiming they “don’t have any parameters when we leave the set. We like to check up on everybody.” He also said the three have a group chat.