Katy Perry Gets Emotional, Cries During Final ‘American Idol’ Finale

Katy Perry is feeling emotional.

The singer, 39, became visibly upset and cried during the season finale of American Idol on Sunday, May 19, after Abi Carter secured her win.

Perry, whose Idol career has now come to an end, sobbed as she hugged fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie while Carter performed a rendition of Billie Eilish‘s “What Was I Made For?”

Carter was up against Will Moseley and Jack Blocker, who placed second and third, respectively.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Perry joined Idol as a judge alongside Bryan, 47, and Richie, 74, back in 2018 for the revival of the show on ABC following its original 15-season run on Fox.

She announced her exit from the series after seven seasons on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this year. At the time, she teased that she has more projects, including new music, to come later in 2024.

“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol,” Perry confirmed. “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, you what I’m saying Jimmy?” she added, winking at host Jimmy Kimmel.

In an interview with Taste of Country Nights, Bryan said that Perry’s exit wasn’t a total surprise. “I had heard whispers that she was thinking about it — it wasn’t, like, a huge shock,” the country crooner said.

“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 [3 years] old,” Bryan added of Perry and her fiancé Orlando Bloom‘s daughter Daisy Dove, whom they welcomed in August 2020.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Richie, for his part, told PEOPLE recently of himself, Perry and Bryan, “We’ve kind of developed a little family and what’s happening now is that we keep talking about her leaving, but it hasn’t registered yet.”

“So I think as it goes on, Luke and I will probably get together and realize that we’re going to kidnap her,” he added.

American Idol airs on ABC.