Why Katy Perry Is Leaving 'American Idol' After 7 Seasons (Exclusive) (2024)

Published:

4:50 AM PDT, April 16, 2024

Katy Perry is readying herself for her final episode as an American Idol judge. The 39-year-old pop star, who is currently in the middle of her last season on the hit music competition show, enjoyed her first live show on Monday night, working to cut the Top 20 down to the Top 14.

And as she continues to work through each week's performances, Perry knows that the end is near.

"I am always emotional on finale, but gosh when this finale comes, I better just tape the false lashes to my face," Perry tells ET's Denny Directo after this week's live show.

As for why she's stepping away from Idol after seven seasons, Perry insists that it's by no means a retirement announcement.

"I'm just trying to make space for other things," she explains. "It's not like me ending this show means I'm going to go retire on an island, even though that would be fabulous. I'm gonna go to work."

Could part of that "work" be the elusive KP6 she teased on Instagram over the weekend?

"You'll learn more when it's ready to launch," Perry says of her rumored new music.

Perry's last album was 2020's Smile, which featured songs "Daisies," "Never Really Over," "Smile," and "Not the End of the World."

Perry -- who shares 3-year-old daughter Daisy Dove with fiancé Orlando Bloom-- has a lot going on in her life, a fact which her fellow judges, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, understand.

"She's got a baby and she's got a family, got new music, and it's going to be amazing," judge Lionel Richie tells ET of Perry. "I'm pulling for her. I told her, 'If you need help on the road, Luke [Bryan] and I will be right there.'"

New episodes of American Idol air Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.

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Why Katy Perry Is Leaving 'American Idol' After 7 Seasons (Exclusive) (2024)

FAQs

Why Katy Perry Is Leaving 'American Idol' After 7 Seasons (Exclusive)? ›

"I'm just trying to make space for other things," she explains. "It's not like me ending this show means I'm going to go retire on an island, even though that would be fabulous. I'm gonna go to work." Could part of that "work" be the elusive KP6 she teased on Instagram over the weekend?

Why was Katy Perry sold? ›

FAQs. Why did Katy Perry decide to sell her music catalog rights to Litmus Music? Katy Perry sold her music catalog rights to Litmus Music due to her longstanding working relationship with Litmus Co-Founder Dan McCarroll, who has been a trusted partner since he became President of Capitol Records in 2010.

Did Katy Perry leave Orlando Bloom? ›

After a year of dating, Bloom and Perry broke up. At the time, their representatives shared the a statement with Entertainment Tonight, which read: “Before rumors or falsifications get out of hand we can confirm that Orlando and Katy are taking respectful, loving space at this time.”

Who are the judges on American Idol 2025? ›

Presently, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are set to return as judges for American Idol, with Ryan Seacrest once again hosting the competition.

What happened to Kayko on American Idol? ›

Sam "Kayko" Kelly-Cohen has said goodbye to Hollywood. The young piano man and singer-songwriter who hails from South Florida was eliminated Sunday night, April 28, on “American Idol” following his Top 10 performance of a song that was released in his birth year, 2000.

How much does American Idol pay Katy Perry? ›

Katy Perry (Season 16 - Present)

Perry was the talk of the town when Page Six reported that she receives $25 million a season from ABC to judge on American Idol. Perry is one of Idol's three new judges since the show was rebooted by ABC in 2018.

What is Katy Perry's net worth in 2024? ›

Katy Perry's net worth in 2024 is estimated at $400 million. This obviously comes largely from the mega-sales in her musical peak and her tours through the years, but also from the extensive branding and endorsem*nt deals she's snagged throughout her career.

Why is Katy Perry leaving Idol? ›

The “Firework” artist became a judge — alongside singers Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie — when ABC revived the series in 2018 following FOX's cancellation two years prior. At the time, Perry explained that she was leaving American Idol to focus on her pop career and release new music.

Are Katy Perry and Taylor Swift friends? ›

Katy Perry and Taylor Swift may have had bad blood in the past, but they have emerged from the drama closer than ever. The pair's famous feud began in 2014 after Perry allegedly poached some of Swift's backup dancers. “She did something so horrible. I was like, 'Oh, we're just straight-up enemies'.

Who is Katy Perry's current partner? ›

All about Orlando Bloom and his fiancée Katy Perry

Bloom and Perry met in 2016 at the Golden Globes afterparty, and have been going strong ever since. The two got engaged on Valentine's Day in 2019 in a super romantic way, as Perry told the story about how Bloom proposed when she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Will American Idol be on in 2024? ›

The twenty-second season of American Idol premiered on February 18, 2024, on the ABC television network. Ryan Seacrest returned as host; Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie returned as judges.

Is Katy Perry coming back to Idol in 2025? ›

With Katy Perry stepping away from her role on American Idol, the singing competition will return for Season 23 in 2025 with a new lineup of judges. ABC confirmed it greenlit the show for another season toward Season 22's finale, which saw Abi Carter emerge as the winner.

Why didn't KAYKO make it? ›

So he did originals for as long as he could, then tried to go the rocker route and give a lot of energy, especially in his Top 12 performance. He got away with it once, but was less successful the second time around. Kayko was just not a good enough singer to keep up, and that is why Kayko lost.

Who was the girl that auditioned with KAYKO? ›

Kayko auditioned for American Idol with his best friend, Abby Blake. Originally, he set out to play the piano accompaniment for his friend, but the judges asked him to sing something for them.

What happened to Kaibrienne on American Idol? ›

Last Monday night, Kaibrienne and McKenna Faith Breinholt were in the Bottom 2 in the voting, and since judge Katy Perry won the Judge's Song Contest (the contestants chose four of the songs she suggested), she had to decide which one to save. She chose McKenna, which led to Kaibrienne's elimination.

What happened to Katy Perry and Taylor Swift? ›

Though the origins of Swift and Perry's feud were murky at first, fans later learned that tension between the two stars sparked after Perry re-hired several of her former backup dancers — who were working at the time for Swift — to join her on her Prismatic World Tour, which launched in May 2014.

Why Katy Perry is not famous now? ›

While Katy Perry is still an internationally renowned artist, her fame has decreased this past year due to the changing musical landscape and saturation of streaming platforms. In addition, her most recent album, 'Smile', was met with mixed reviews from critics.

How much did Katy Perry sell her rights for? ›

After months of rumors, Katy Perry has sold her music rights to Litmus Music, the Carlyle-backed company announced Monday; multiple sources put the price at $225 million.

What does it mean to sell a music catalog? ›

When a musician sells their catalog, it means they're selling the rights to their songs, including the royalties paid when their music is consumed and used. Under a record contract, copyright and related rights are distributed between the artist and the record company.

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