Katy Perry made her final appearance as a judge on “American Idol” during the Season 22 finale on May 19.
Perry, who, along with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, had sat at the judges’ table since the reality singing competition relaunched on ABC in 2018 after 15 seasons on Fox, announced in February that she would leave the show after the just-concluded season.
Now that Abi Carter has been crowned the season’s winner and Perry has made her exit, fans are wondering who will replace the “Roar” singer at the judges’ table.
Richie has said he’d love to see original “American Idol” champ Kelly Clarkson return to the show as a judge.
But the Season One winner recently told “Entertainment Tonight” that judging the singing competition show is not in the cards.
The “Breakaway” singer shares children River Rose, 9, and Remington, 8 with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. In 2023, Clarkson moved her talk show and personal life from Los Angeles to New York City.
Though Clarkson has seemingly taken herself out of the running, judges and “American Idol” alums have spoken out about who could replace Perry.