Katy Perry has announced that she is leaving the reality singing competition show American Idol after seven seasons [E! Online]. The pop star confirmed her departure during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, stating that she wanted to give herself the opportunity to focus on her own music and career [Variety]. Rumors of Perry's departure began circulating in February 2024, with reports suggesting that she felt "thrown under the bus" by the show's producers [Express]. However, Perry clarified during her interview with Kimmel that there were no hard feelings between her and the show [Variety].
Perry joined American Idol as a judge in 2018 for its 16th season, alongside fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan [Standard]. Throughout her time on the show, Perry became known for her energetic and sometimes controversial judging style [Rolling Stone]. She was praised for her musical expertise and ability to connect with contestants [Country Now]. Perry's departure leaves an opening for a new judge, and there is speculation about who will fill her role on the panel [Hindustan Times].
American Idol, which originally aired from 2002 to 2016 on Fox, was revived by ABC in 2018. The show has been praised for discovering and launching the careers of numerous successful artists, including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood [TV Insider]. Despite some ups and downs in ratings over the years, American Idol remains a popular and influential program in the music industry [Bustle].
As for Perry, she has a busy schedule ahead. She recently released her sixth studio album, "Smile," and is planning a world tour to promote the album [Daily Mail]. She also has other ventures in the works, including a Las Vegas residency and a judge position on the upcoming show "Katy Perry's Next Level Star" [Hollywood Reporter]. Although she is leaving American Idol, Perry's fans can still expect to see and hear plenty from the singer in the coming months.
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