Katy Perry is feeling emotional.
The singer (39) became visibly upset and broke down in tears during the season finale American Idol on Sunday, May 19, after Abi Carter secured her victory.
Perry, whose Idol career now over, she sobbed as she hugged fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie as Carter performed “What Was I Made For?” Billie Eilish.
Carter was up against Will Moseley and Jack Blocker, who were second and third, respectively.
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Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan in ‘American Idol’.
Disney/Eric McCandless/Getty
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Perry joined Idol as a judge alongside Bryan, 47, and Richie, 74, back in 2018 for ABC’s revival of the series after its original 15-season run on Fox.
She announced her exit from the series after seven seasons Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this year. At the time, she teased that she had more projects, including new music, coming later in 2024.
“I think this will probably be my last show, my last season Idol,” Perry confirmed. “I mean, I love it Idol so much.”
“He connected me to the heart of America, but I feel like I have to go out and feel that pulse in my own rhythm, you know what I’m saying Jimmy?” she added, winking at host Jimmy Kimmel.
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Katy Perry.
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In an interview with The taste of country nights, Bryan said Perry’s exit wasn’t a complete surprise. “I heard whispers that she was thinking about it — it wasn’t, like, a huge shock,” the country singer said.
“It was good working with Katy, and she and I developed a great friendship and working together with her. I mean, hell, I was there before her daughter was born, and now her daughter is [3 years] old,” Bryan added of Perry and her fiance Orlando Bloom’s daughter Daisy Dove, who they welcomed in August 2020.
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For his part, Richie recently told PEOPLE of himself, Perry and Bryan, “We’ve kind of developed a little family and what’s happening now is we’re constantly talking about her leaving, but it hasn’t registered yet.”
“So I think Luke and I will probably get together and figure out we’re going to kidnap her,” he added.
American Idol airs on ABC.
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