Lionel Richie on Finding Out Katy Perry Was Leaving ‘American Idol’: ‘My Phone Blew Up’

Lionel Richie’s “phone blew up” after Katy Perry announced her plans to leave American Idol.

During the performance at Jimmy Kimmel Live!The R&B legend, 74, opened up about her experience when she found out the “Firework” singer, 39, was leaving the reality singing competition.

“I’m not mad – I just ran off the road when I first heard about it,” laughed Richie, adding: “My phone blew up.”

Although he was unaware of Perry’s departure before she broke the news on Jimmy Kimmel’s show last week, he said it “makes sense.”

Lionel Richie on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’.

Randy Holmes/Disney

Katy Perry reveals she is leaving American Idol: ‘I want to see the world and maybe bring new music’

“In other words: the reason I love coming to the show with you and the reason I do it American Idol because I have 400 years of stories and life in the music business. I have things I’ve done,” he told the 56-year-old host.

Richie added: “So when Katy says, ‘I want to go and make some stories,’ remember, she’s young. But the point is, you have to take some time and actually be an artist.”

When asked if he knew who would replace the 13-time Grammy nominee, Richie said he wasn’t sure.

“You know, they keep quiet because I don’t even know, but I’m telling you… It’s going to be very interesting,” he said. “Just because I’m telling you, this is great And what I love most is that we’re artists, so we know what we’re talking about, and these kids are scared to death, so I like to sit there like wise poo-bahs, the three of us, and we we’re sitting there and we’re all kind of giving information that we know is real.”

Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan in ‘American Idol’. Raymond Liu/Getty

The “Deep River Woman” singer continued, “So whoever comes on the show has to be, well, to top Katy, you’ve got to be forever funny and, on top of that, knowledgeable.”

Perry announced her plans to leave American Idol after seven seasons on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week when she revealed she’s working on several projects, including new music, due out in 2024.

“I think this will probably be my last show, my last season Idol“, she 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 Kimmel.

When her colleague was asked Idol judges Richie and Luke Bryan reflected on her departure, the “Last Friday Night” artist quipped, “Well, she’s going to find out tonight!”

Perry added that her American Idol colleagues “know I’ve got some things planned for this year,” adding: “So it’s going to be a very, very exciting year … for all the pop stars!”

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Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images

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She also shared her adoration for Bryan, 47, and Richie: “I love them so much.”

Perry also explained that the duo knew about her plans to move on Idol after seeing her “in the studio”.

“They realized that I had been in the studio for some time, so they realized that something was up,” she added. “I love the show so much, but I want to go and see the world and maybe bring some new music.”

Kimmel pressed the pop star about her replacement on the Fox show, to which she replied, “Let’s just say I’m making room for my new wingspan.”

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Source: HIS Education