Lionel Richie shares his thoughts on Katy Perry Leaving American Idol
Last week, American Idol judge Lionel Richie dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live to talk about his documentary The Greatest Night in Pop which is about recording We are the World in 1984. Plus, Lionel shared what it was like to visit his childhood home in Tuskegee, AL for the new season of American Idol on ABC.
But the big topic of the night was about Katy Perry leaving American Idol–a surprise announcement she made on Live just a few days before.
“My phone blew up”
“I’m not mad — it just made me run off the road when I first heard about it,” Lionel joked, adding, “My phone blew up.”
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He confirms that he did NOT know about Katy’s exit before she announced it on Jimmy’s show. But, he said, “it makes sense.”
“In other words, the reason I love coming on the show with you and the reason I’m doing American Idol is because I have 400 years of stories and a life in the music business. I have things that I’ve done,” he told Jimmy. “And so when Katy says, ‘I want to go and create some stories,’ remember, she’s young. But the point is that you have to take some time and actually be an artist.”
Jimmy has no idea whom ABC plans to hire to replace Katy when she departs.
“They are keeping tight lipped”
“You know, they are keeping tight-lipped because I don’t even know, but I’m telling you… It’s gonna be really interesting,” he said. “Only because, I’m telling you something, this is a great show. And what I love most of all is that we’re artists, so we know what we’re talking about, and these kids are scared to death, so I love sitting there as the wise poo-bahs, the three of us, and we’re sitting there and we’re all kind of giving information that we know is real.”
Lionel continued, “So whoever’s coming on the show has got to be, well, to come past Katy, you’ve gotta be humorous forever, and, on top of that, knowledgeable.”
“Well they’ll find out tonight!”
Katy announced that she would be leaving American Idol after seven seasons in order to devote more time to several projects, including new music due out in 2024.
“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol,” she confirmed. “I mean 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, you what I’m saying Jimmy?” she added.
When asked what her fellow Idol judges Lionel and Luke Bryan thought about her leaving, Katy simply said, “Well they’ll find out tonight!”
