Luke Bryan is weighing in on Katy Perry's recent announcement that she is leaving "American Idol."
During an interview with the radio show "Taste of Country Nights," the CMT Music Award winner admitted that his fellow judge's reveal was not exactly a "huge shock" to him.
"I had heard whispers that she was thinking about it - it wasn't like a huge shock," said Bryan, who joined "Idol" with Perry and fellow judge Lionel Ritchie in 2016. "I think she kinda just got caught up in the moment with Kimmel and maybe announced that she was done."
"It's been a good run with Katy, and she and I have developed a great friendship and to work alongside her, I mean, heck, I was there before her daughter was born, and now her daughter is three years old," he added.
In February, the "Fireworks" singer officially announced her "Idol" departure during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
"I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for ‘Idol,’" Perry said. "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."
When asked how her fellow judges reacted to the news, Perry responded, "Well, they’ll find out tonight!"
"They know that I have some things planned for this year," she teased. "So it’s going to be a very, very exciting year… for all popstar girlies!"
For Bryan, one of the highlights has been watching Perry "be a mother [to daughter Daisy Dove] through this whole process," he said.
"I mean it's just really been fun getting to know Katy," he said. "She knows that no matter what her next endeavors are, that she can pick up the phone and call me and check in and say, ‘Hey.’ If she ever needs fishing advice or any random stuff like that."
Though it is uncertain who will replace Perry next season, Bryan said he has not thought about leaving quite yet.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
"I mean, every year we negotiate how we do ‘Idol,’ and it's a year commitment," he said. "It's not like I have a five-year contract or anything. So when we start getting into the later stages of ‘Idol,’ we'll start deciding whether we come back or not, and that's how we have done it for seven years."
The "Roar" singer’s exit comes after she faced criticism over a controversial "American Idol" season, when she was accused of "mom-shaming" and being "condescending."
Bryan came to the defense of Perry when asked if fans had been too harsh in their criticism of her.
"Katy Perry's been dealing with stuff like that her whole career," Bryan explained during an interview at Country Music Association (CMA) Fest in June 2023. "We all get it.… I mean we're judging kids that people at home fall in love with.… We're not going to bat 1,000 as judges."
