Lionel Richie breaks silence about Katy Perry’s ‘American Idol’ exit: ‘I’m not mad’

Lionel Richie has broken his silence about his fellow “American Idol” judge Katy Perry’s exit. 

During a Thursday appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Richie, 74, said, “It just made me run off the road when I first heard about it. My phone blew up.”

But, he added, “I’m not mad.” 

On Monday night, during her own appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Perry, 39, announced that she was leaving “American Idol.” The upcoming Season 22 will be her last. 

“Well, you know, this fall, this September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio. It’s really exciting,” the “Firework” singer shared. 

“It’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially my Brazilian fans.”

“So I think this will probably be my last season for ‘Idol,’” added Perry, who has been a judge on the show alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan since its revival in 2018.

Perry, who welcomed her first child, Daisy, with her fiance Orlando Bloom, 47, in 2020, said, “I love ‘Idol’ so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America. But I need to feel that pulse of my own beat.”

Regarding who will replace Perry, Richie said, “You know, they are keeping tight-lipped because I don’t even know, but I’m telling you… It’s gonna be really interesting.” 

The Grammy-winning “Endless Love” singer continued, “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. 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.”

Richie said that he and Bryan weren’t aware of Perry’s decision before she revealed her news on Monday.

“No, we didn’t know about it, but it makes sense,” he said.

“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.”

“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.”

“American Idol” Season 22 premieres Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. on ABC.