Katy Perry Might Return To ‘American Idol’

Katy Perry might return to American Idol, even though she said her goodbyes this weekend after being one of the singing competition's judges for seven years.

The 39-year-old pop star ended her reign during Sunday's (May 19) finale, which was filled with tearful goodbyes with her fellow judges. Following the live show, Perry told ET that she was a "little tired" because she had been crying all night.

Abi Carter was crowned the season 22 winner, and Perry said that was the "cherry on top" for the night since it's been "a while" since a female won the competition. The last female winner was actually in season 18, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just Sam was crowned that year's virtual winner. Before that was season 16's Maddie Poppe. She noted that Abi was her "pick from the beginning." Perry said that the win was "my present from the universe."

One of the hardest parts for Perry was saying goodbye to her fellow judges, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Perry admitted that Richie simply telling her that he'd miss her was the first thing to set off the waterworks. But, in classic Katy Perry fashion, she made light of the situation and ordered pizza during the show, "and that helped," she noted.

She shared the moment on social media, turning to the camera briefly to shrug, then threw the pepperoni slice into the crowd. The fans seemed confused, even though they tried catching the slice. Perry then playfully danced for the cameras.

The "Firework" singer found a way to honor her time on the show through her impeccable fashion. With a flair for the dramatics, Perry was suspended high off the ground, wearing a personalized skirt of the top 24 contestants from each season. She told ET in her interview that she found it a good way to "honor" her time there. "It was a fun surprise because I was raising up, and you just saw more and more contestants."

Her gold-plated top also featured seven roses, which she noted is obviously for the seven seasons she has served as a judge.

As for her hopes on who would replace her on the judges' panel, Perry didn't have a specific name in mind, but she did share her thoughts on what qualities she thinks they should have. "I hope it's someone fearless. I hope it's someone that doesn't mince their words, maybe someone a little polarizing just like myself," Perry said.

Noting that people have criticized her for being a judge and saying things like, "'She's awful! She should go!' And there's a lot of people that are like, 'She speaks her mind! She's authentic!' Whatever, you can't win 'em all." Able to take the heat, Perry says she prefers it better that way to be hated because "that means you actually have a point of view."

As for the reaction to her exit, Perry felt like everyone acted as if she were dying. She admits she's going on tour, and as we reported, she is leaving Idol after seven years to focus on her music. She has been teasing KP6, and though fans are highly anticipating her 6th studio album, she teased, "Keep that seat hot. I mean, who knows? I loved everything I got to experience and learn."

With a music career spanning over 15 years, Katy Perry has some iconic pop hits. From her first big hit in 2008 with "I Kissed A Girl," she had women all over the world proclaiming their love for cherry-flavored Chapstick. Perry's music videos have since evolved, usually putting much thought into conceptualizing her fantasy videos.

The "California Gurls" singer was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on October 25, 1984, in California. She released her debut album, a contemporary Christian record titled Katy Hudson in 2001, but it was unsuccessful. To avoid confusion with actress Kate Hudson, she briefly performed as Katheryn Perry but adopted the stage name "Katy Perry" from her mother's maiden name. A few years later, she was signed to Capitol Records in April 2007. The label arranged for her to work with Dr. Luke to add an "undeniable smash" to her existing material. Perry and Dr. Luke co-wrote the songs "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold" for her second album, One of the Boys. "I Kissed a Girl" went platinum in the US six times, and the music video has 275 million views on YouTube. Meanwhile, "Hot n Cold" went eight times platinum and has an astounding 1.1 billion views for the music video.

Perry has been an American Idol judge, is engaged to Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom. They share daughter Daisy Dove Bloom together. As a businesswoman, she owns several companies. She owns a non-alcoholic, natural-adaptogen beverage company called De Soi. In addition to that, she also founded her own record label under Capitol Records, titled Metamorphosis Music. The name got changed to Unsub Records in 2016, and signed singer-songwriter Ferras that same year. In 2017, Perry signed another singer-songwriter named Cyn. By May 2021, Perry signed Michael J. Woodard, a former contestant from season 16 of American Idol.

Take a look at our top 10 Katy Perry music videos below, ranked:

We're loving the old-school Disney animation of this version of the "Harleys in Hawaii" music video. Featuring a classic chase scene after the woman leaves her Hula and has her man hop on the back of her Harley as they ride across the island. The music video features a lot of connections with the Hawaiian culture as they go for their highway ride: they see a man getting a traditional tribal tattoo via kakau (hand-tapping the ink in with wood or animal tusk), a traditional Hula dance and making leis.

In this music video, aliens hilariously mistake Zooey Deschanel for Katy Perry, who just so happens to pass by her at the park with her baby. The two often get confused for each other -- they both have dark hair and big baby blues. In the video, Deschanel is saved by her alien abductors from the Earth's destruction. Making a deal to save the Earth, Zooey says she'll play along and perform for the spaceship, throwing on a blue wig and wearing props from Perry's other iconic music videos. After saving the Earth by unplugging the internet, Zooey gets on stage in a full-on space costume and lip-syncs to the song, looking pretty spot-on as a fake Katy Perry!

Taking place at an international A.I. and robotics center in Switzerland, candidate Zedd is asked questions while hooked up to a machine. "Define obsessions. Can you return to normal after this study?" The monitor shows an irregularity and he is then asked to "Define love." We see an A.I. version of Perry and six days later, she is suited up and ready to go for her "proxy subject test." As she tests on a bear, her affection levels are too high and need to be adjusted. A.I. Katy learns how to dance and how to hold a conversation at dinner. Fast forward to day 118, and it's time to meet Zedd for the "human subject test." At first meet, her hug seems to be just on the border of too strong, but nails it. However, it seems as though he isn't into all this attention and perfection and tries to sneak away from A.I. Katy. This saddens her at first, then she decides to take control of the situation and essentially holds him hostage. Day 365 marks the end of the test and the end of her trial.

In the "most unwatchable, eye-gouging blowout of the season," Perry enlists a bunch of celebrity cameos for the Tigers team (callback to Perry's "eye of the tiger" lyrics in "Roar") including Stranger Things' Gaten "Tragic Johnson" Matarazzo, Russell Horning, Jenna Ushkowitz, Doug the Pug, Christine Sydelko, Dexter Mayfield, Rob Gronkowski, Joey Chestnut, Molly Shannon (Superstar), Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rich Eisen, Bill Walton and Terry Crews. We love the inclusion of the song on Just Dance 2018, which plays on one of the stadium's monitors. After Nicki Minaj's performance, she gives the team a pep talk to get it together after a comical and embarrassing game.

This is one of our favorite songs to do on Just Dance. Set in place in Egypt "a crazy long time ago, "Katypatra" serves up major looks in this music video, complete with pharaohs and people with Siamese cat heads. Our favorite parts of this music video are when she is on the boat with other dancers and when she is melded in with other statues. The cinematography for the video is top-tier, with bright colors of pink, blue, and gold. Having been made in 2013, Perry set the precedent for other pop artists who have used inspiration from this music video, with Doja Cat's "You Right" using similar themes.

If you don't widen your eyes while listening to Perry's 2012 hit, "Wide Awake," you're living your life wrong. The music video continues from her "California Gurls" music video, and as Perry goes back into her dressing room, the colors get desaturated as she goes goth for "Wide Awake." Transported to a labyrinth wearing a witchy outfit, the artist gets the strength to escape after she eats a strawberry. Continuing on horror themes, a M3GAN-like girl shows up and leads Perry to a mirror showing her paparazzi as the floor crumbles behind them. As the little girl defeats two Satanic-looking creatures, they enter a garden that looks like it's from the world of Alice in Wonderland.

In what looks like the best amusement park of all time, Perry creates Oblivia. In it, there are attractions such as "The Great American Dream Drop," "Love Me" rollercoasters complete with heart-shaped loops, and "Inferno H20" gas stations with fiery drinks. The amusement park becomes more apparent that is all a hoax and the utopia is all a facade.

Surprisingly, "California Gurls" isn't Perry's most-watched music video. With Snoop Dogg as a feature in their West Coast version of "Empire State of Mind," the two venture in Katy's version of Candyland. The video is so whimsical and is quintessential Katy Perry. They even have a gingerbread house with Girl Scouts! Taking a page out of the Austin Powers' Fembots, Perry straps on candy cane whipped cream to her brassiere and goes wild.

In 2010, Perry came out with this out-of-this-world music video with Kanye West. As a CGI Katy Petty alien is twirling through the universe, she transforms into an alien goddess. Scenes of life and death are shown and Perry transforms more alien-like with black eyes,  a white ensemble, and a more intricate headpiece. Her costume design team went all-out for all of her characters.

We love a tropical Katy Perry. In this 2013 music video, she uses themes from Jurassic Park and Tarzan and is accompanied by the worst type of guy -- a self-centered man who leaves her holding the bag (played by actor Brian Nagel). With scary creatures big and small closing in on them, Perry finds her confidence when she evokes her inner tiger. Now that she has accepted her environment, she thrives in the jungle and becomes the Queen of the Jungle.