Katy Perry Is Quitting 'American Idol'

By Dustin Rowles | TV | February 13, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | February 13, 2024 |

After seven seasons on American Idol, Katy Perry is exiting the series after the upcoming season, she announced last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “This fall, in September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio … so I think this will probably be my last season for Idol.”

The announcement will be news to her co-hosts, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Asked by Jimmy Kimmel how they took the news, Perry told him, “Well, they’ll find out tonight!”

Perry has been with American Idol since the show’s 16th season when ABC revived the show in 2018. Her tenure, however, has been marked by some controversy. She’s been criticized for being too hard on some contestants and mocking others, which is ironic because the initial popularity of the series resulted from the harsh and mocking treatment contestants received from Simon Cowell. Times and attitudes have obviously changed since Idol premiered (but also, men still get a pass where women often do not).

The 22nd season of American Idol returns on February 18th.