'American Idol' judges reveal must-haves for Katy Perry's replacement after season finale

When the cameras shut off on Sunday’s “American Idol” finale following 21-year-old Abi Carter’s win, it marked the end of the Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan judging trio that’s been gracing screens across the country since 2018.

Perry had announced back in February that she would bow out at the end of Season 22 to “go and see the world and maybe bring new music.”

Speaking with media outlets, following the finale taping, Richie admitted, “This is bittersweet because we’re going to lose one of the originators, if you will,” of the show’s run on ABC, where it moved in 2018 after a long run on Fox.

He continued, “We were a trainwreck when we first met. I knew Katy, I knew Luke, but we had never worked together. … Once we realized that Katy’s going to come out of her clothes somewhere during the course of the show – a malfunction is going to happen – and Luke is going to eat the pizza and drop it on his lap, it’s enough to keep you on pins. But it worked.

“I’m going to miss this group. Katy is going to be missed.”

Less than an hour after filming on Perry’s final “Idol” episode wrapped apparently wasn’t too soon for inquiring minds to ask about what would be happening with the void she’s leaving behind.