Katy Perry Gets Emotional, Cries During Final ‘American Idol’ Finale

Katy Perry is feeling emotional.

The singer, 39, turned visibly upset and cried through the season finale of American Idol on Sunday, May 19, after Abi Carter secured her win.

Perry, whose Idol profession has now come to an finish, sobbed as she hugged fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie whereas Carter carried out a rendition of Billie Eilish‘s “What Was I Made For?”

Carter was up in opposition to Will Moseley and Jack Blocker, who positioned second and third, respectively.

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Perry joined Idol as a decide alongside Bryan, 47, and Richie, 74, again in 2018 for the revival of the present on ABC following its unique 15-season run on Fox.

She introduced her exit from the sequence after seven seasons on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this 12 months. At the time, she teased that she has extra tasks, together with new music, to return later in 2024.

“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol,” Perry confirmed. “I imply I really like Idol a lot.”

“It’s linked me with the center of America, however I really feel like I must exit and really feel that pulse to my very own beat, you what I’m saying Jimmy?” she added, winking at host Jimmy Kimmel.

In an interview with Taste of Country Nights, Bryan mentioned that Perry’s exit wasn’t a complete shock. “I had heard whispers that she was fascinated by it — it wasn’t, like, an enormous shock,” the nation crooner mentioned.

“It’s been an excellent run with Katy, and she or he and I’ve developed an ideal friendship and to work alongside her. I imply, heck, I used to be there earlier than her daughter was born, and now her daughter is [3 years] outdated,” Bryan added of Perry and her fiancé Orlando Bloom‘s daughter Daisy Dove, whom they welcomed in August 2020.

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Richie, for his half, instructed PEOPLE not too long ago of himself, Perry and Bryan, “We’ve type of developed a bit household and what’s occurring now’s that we hold speaking about her leaving, nevertheless it hasn’t registered but.”

“So I believe because it goes on, Luke and I’ll most likely get collectively and understand that we will kidnap her,” he added.

American Idol airs on ABC.