American Idol bid a fond farewell to Katy Perry on Sunday, as the singer made her final appearance on the show after six years. The “Firework” vocalist exited the long-running singing competition on Sunday’s season finale (19 May). Alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Combs, Perry, 39, had been a judge since 2018 when the series was revived by ABC after a two-year hiatus.
After announcing her planned departure in February , Perry entered her final show hand-in-hand with Richie, 74, and Bryan, 47, and appeared emotional when she saw presenter Ryan Seacrest . In tribute to Perry’s time on the show, the women of this season’s top 12 came together for a medley of some of her most famous songs: “Teenage Dream”, “Dark Horse” and “California Gurls”. At the start of the performance, Perry was shown enjoying the tribute while enjoying a pizza slice.
When the finalists finished their dedication to the singer, an elated Perry climbed on top of the judges’ desk and roared with delight, lifting her arms in a weight-lifting motion. Perry later took to the stage for a performance of her own, duetting her song “What Makes a Woman” with third-place finalist Jake Blocker. Later in the show, when season 22 winner Abi Carter gave a victory performance of Billie Eilish’s gentle ballad “What Was I Made For”, Perry was seen shedding tears as she watched.
As the credits began to roll, Bryan and Richie embraced Perry. However, the “ET” star did not directly address t.
