Katy Perry made a surprising announcement on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that she will be leaving American Idol after being a part of the show for seven seasons.
“This fall, this September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio. It’s really exciting. It’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially for my Brazilian fans,” she told the host. “So I think this will probably be my last season for Idol.”
She added, “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat.”
Host Jimmy asked Katy what her fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan thought of her exit and she joked, “Well, they’ll find out tonight.”
Her co-stars had already caught on to her departure due to her frequent studio visits and upcoming projects.
While Katy Perry didn’t go into detail about what’s to come, she hinted at releasing new music and embarking on a tour.
“I love the show so much but I want to go and see the world and maybe bring new music,” she teased. “Maybe I’ll come back if they have me one day.”
Having joined American Idol in 2018, Katy’s most recent album, titled Smile, was released in 2020. Fans can catch her final season of the reality show when it premieres in the U.S. on February 18th.
