Katy Perry’s Exit From ‘American Idol’ and Luke Bryan’s Emotional Reaction

Katy Perry will be leaving American Idol at the end of this current season — a surprise to some of her fellow judges.

During a sit-down withTaste of Country Nights, Luke Bryan shared some of the behind-the-scenes details of her departure, including his reaction when he heard that it was official.

"I had heard whispers that she was thinking about it — it wasn't like a huge shock," he admits of his co-worker leaving. "I think she kinda just got caught up in the moment with Kimmel and maybe announced that she was done."

Bryan and Perry have developed a friendship over the years that they've worked together, he says.

"It's been a good run with Katy, and she and I have developed a great friendship and to work alongside her," he says. "I mean, heck, I was there before her daughter was born, and now her daughter is three or four years old."

The "All My Friends Say" singer seems to really like the pop star, further gushing that she's a great mother and someone he's grown to admire.

"Just seeing her be a mother through this whole process. I mean it's just really been fun getting to know Katy."

"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," he says, joking, "If she ever needs fishing advice or any random stuff like that."

Given that both Bryan and Perry are major stars in their respective genres, could a collaboration ever come about?

"Well, I don't know," Bryan says. "I've always felt that collaborations are song-based before they are artist-based."

"With 'Cowboys and Plowboys' [his current collab], that song just felt right for me and Jon Pardi. I think the song dictates the collaboration, and from there you just have to rock and roll with it."

When asked if Perry's decision had any impact on whether Bryan himself would return for Season 23 of American Idol, he says he goes back to that conversation annually.

"No, not really. I mean, every year we re-kinda negotiate how we do Idol, and it's a year commitment," he spills. "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."

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. He plays the best new country music and interviews today's top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!