Katy Perry is bidding farewell to her role as a judge on American Idol, as she gears up to embark on a new musical journey.
The popular TV talent show is set to return for its 22nd season on ABC this Sunday (Feb. 18), but it will mark Perry’s seventh and final season as a judge. She made the announcement during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night (Feb. 12), expressing her love for the show but her desire to explore new horizons.
While reflecting on her time on Idol alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan since its revival in 2018, Perry shared, “I think this will probably be my last show, my last season for Idol.” She expressed gratitude for the opportunity the show provided to connect with the heart of America but emphasized her need to march to her own beat and experience the world while potentially creating new music.
Perry is particularly excited about her upcoming performance at Brazil’s Rock In Rio festival in September, describing it as “a big deal” and hinting at the sense of liberation she feels in embracing new opportunities beyond Idol.
By stepping away from her regular role on Idol, Perry sees herself as making room for new creative endeavors, metaphorically “creating space for my new wingspan.”
Last year, Perry’s musical legacy expanded further when Litmus Music acquired the rights to five of her studio albums, including the Grammy-nominated Teenage Dream, for a reported $225 million. This deal underscored Perry’s remarkable success in the music industry, highlighted by her historic achievement of sending five songs from the same album to the top of the Hot 100 chart with Teenage Dream.
While her most recent studio album, Smile, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2020, Perry’s impact on the music world continues to resonate.
During her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Perry also touched on other topics, including her admiration for Usher’s Super Bowl performance, her experience singing at King Charles’ Coronation, and the memorable opportunity to stay at Windsor Castle with her mother, which she described as “the best gift you could ever give your mom.”
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