Will Jelly Roll replace Katy Perry on 'American Idol'? ABC show judge praises Season 22 guest mentor

'American Idol' judge Katy Perry recently announced her brief departure from ABC show
PUBLISHED APR 21, 2024
Katy Perry compliments Jelly Roll's 'American Idol' gig (Instagram/@katyperry and @americanidol)
Katy Perry compliments Jelly Roll's 'American Idol' gig (Instagram/@katyperry and @americanidol)

SANTA MONICA, CALFORNIA: 'American Idol' judge Katy Perry recently announced her temporary departure from the ABC show judge. However, the singer recently reflected on the amazing singer who could fill her chair after her departure. In a recent interview with E! News, Katy recommended Jelly Roll, as her replacement judge.

Jelly Roll recently appeared on 'American Idol' Season 22 during Disney night to mentor aspiring singers and the viewers loved him. Katy was also impressed by his mentorship and shared, "I gotta say Jelly Roll was crazy when he came on the show." She told the outlet, "He could run for president, he could be my pastor, I might go back to church for him."

Katy further claimed, "He could sell me anything... To have any of these guys plus Jelly on the show would be amazing." The ABC show judge added, "So I love him and to have any of these guys plus Jelly on the show would be amazing. I love you, Jelly!" Regardless of her recommendation, Katy claimed she ultimately wants a "truth teller." The pop star shared, "I want someone that is not afraid to tell the truth in a graceful way."

Jelly Roll joined Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol' Season 22 to mentor contestants (ABC/EricMcCandless)
Jelly Roll joined Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol' Season 22 to mentor contestants (ABC/EricMcCandless)

Why is Katy Perry leaving 'American Idol'?

'American Idol' judge Katy Perry announced her departure from the ABC show to focus on her music career and her daughter. The singer recently clarified that her exit would be 'brief' and she would return to the judge's chair soon. The singer has starred on 'American Idol' for around seven seasons.

During her appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', Katy teased she has more projects, including new music, to come later in 2024. The ABC show judge said, "I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol." She added, "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."

katy Perry (@katyperry/Instagram)
Katy Perry takes a hiatus from 'American Idol' to focus on her music career (@katyperry/Instagram)

Jelly Roll connects with Mia Matthews over their father's death

Singer and rapper Jelly Roll graced 'American Idol' Season 22 Disney Week with his rocking performance and inspiring mentorship. However, the guest performer also had an emotional moment while mentoring ABC show contestant, Mia Matthews. During the episode, Jelly broke down in tears after Mia shared about her father's tragic death.

Mia shared, "This is my first time here. He passed away before we were able to come, so it's been a really emotional and meaningful trip," adding, "This place is very special." The aspiring singer then revealed that she would be performing 'Daddy's Hands' by Holly Dunn and sang for Jelly Roll.

The aspiring singer explained she chose that song because her father was a carpenter and she remembered the look of his hands. However, Jelly Roll started crying soon after Mia hit the high note in the chorus. The rapper explained in the confessional, "Every minute with Mia for me was probably the most emotional of the day because I was so connected to my father."

The award-winning singer revealed to Mia, "I lost my father in 2019." He fought back tears and added, "It's so brave of you to pick that song. It's probably the single hardest experience I've ever had."

'American Idol' mentor Jelly Roll teared up during Mia Matthews's rehearsals (ABC/EricMcCandless)
'American Idol' mentor Jelly Roll teared up during Mia Matthews's rehearsals (ABC/EricMcCandless)

'American Idol' Season 22 airs on Sundays and Mondays at 8 pm ET on ABC.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The Battle Rounds kicked off with Team Kelly’s youngest contestants, and their performance added a twist to the show
1 hour ago
The Top 20 performances are being stretched across two nights, with the first batch of 10 taking the stage during the March 16 episode
2 hours ago
The clues for High Voltage's true identity left the panelists guessing till the last moment, with some betting he was either Travis Kelce or Jason Sudeikis.
16 hours ago
‘Love Island USA’ scores massive streaming numbers, and now Season 8 is on the way, along with a new docuseries about life after the villa.
2 days ago
As 'America’s Got Talent' celebrates its 20-year run, NBC has revealed the Season 21 premiere date, returning judges, and more
3 days ago
'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' stars Jessi and Jordan have been through numerous lows in their relationship, to the point of seeking couples therapy.
4 days ago
The sisterhood faces the trials of their expanding fame, but the fraternity hold together in 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Season 4?
4 days ago
A surprise romance steals the spotlight at the ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 10 reunion as Jessica reveals she’s dating someone from the pods
4 days ago
A ‘Love Is Blind’ marriage that once looked promising crashed fast, and the reunion revealed the messy truth behind the split
4 days ago
Pangolin and High Voltage landed in the bottom two in the latest episode of 'The Masked Singer'
4 days ago