After seven seasons on American Idol, judge and pop icon Katy Perry has announced her retirement from the famous singing competition show.
The announcement, which was first posted on social media and later verified by ABC, marks the end of Perry’s role as a mentor and guide to young singers.
When Perry appeared on Monday night’s edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, host Jimmy Kimmel asked her explicitly how long she intended to stay on Idol. Perry has served as a judge on the show, with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, since its reintroduction by ABC in 2018.
“Well, you know, this fall, this September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio. It’s really exciting. It’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially my Brazilian fans,” Perry stated in answer to Kimmel’s query, before adding, “So I think this will probably be my last season on Idol.”
Perry, who has been a judge on the hit show for seven seasons, stated, “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America. But I need to feel that pulse of my own beat,” Perry concluded, hinting that she will release new songs soon and maybe embark on a global tour.
When Kimmel asked Perry about her decision to leave the show, she said, “Well, they’ll find out tonight!” to the query from her fellow Idol judges.
Perry later said on Instagram that the upcoming season of Idol would be her final one. She captioned, “Let’s play two truths and a lie: 1. I beat @usher at Monopoly Deal. 2. I’m headlining Rock in Rio this September. 3. This is my last season on @americanidol.”
Perry’s resignation comes amid speculations of prospective changes to the show’s formula, fuelling conjecture about her reasons for leaving.
According to insiders close to the singer, her decision is motivated by a desire to focus on her music career, which has recently seen a slump compared to her earlier pop domination.
ABC has yet to identify Perry’s replacement, but several names are already circulating. With the show’s 21st season coming, there is much curiosity regarding who may join veteran judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.