American Idol’s Katy Perry says Luke Bryan ‘will return next week’ after Paula Abdul replaces him due to Covid battle

AMERICAN Idol’s Katy Perry revealed her fellow judge Luke Bryan will likely return to the show next week after testing positive for Covid-19. Former judge Paula Abdul replaced the country singer on the panel during Monday night’s broadcast, which was the first live show of the season. Hours before American Idol was set to air, […]

AMERICAN Idol’s Katy Perry revealed her fellow judge Luke Bryan will likely return to the show next week after testing positive for Covid-19.

Former judge Paula Abdul replaced the country singer on the panel during Monday night’s broadcast, which was the first live show of the season.

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Luke Bryan missed the American Idol live show on Monday after a positive Covid test[/caption]

Hours before American Idol was set to air, Luke, 44, revealed on social media that he was going to have to miss the the show because of his diagnosis.

He added to fans: “I’m doing well and look forward to being back at it soon.”

Katy later echoed Luke’s comments to ET and shared that “he’s totally good” and that she thinks “he’s gonna be alright.” 

She added: “I think we’ll be seeing him next week.” 

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Katy Perry revealed he’s ‘gonna be alright’ and should be back next week[/caption]

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Former judge Paula Abdul filled in for Luke[/caption]

The pop star, 36, also revealed that Luke was texting with her and judge Lionel Richie the whole night.

”He was texting us,” Katy said. “He was blowing up our phones during the whole episode. Some of it we can’t even say.”

Lionel agreed, saying: “We can’t say half of it!”

Despite not being there to judge the contestants himself, Katy said Luke “agreed with everything” that happened and was said, and was only “just giving critiques at home, I guess, alone in his room.”

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Katy shared that Luke was texting with her and Lionel Richie during the show[/caption]

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Judge Lionel joked that they can’t share ‘half of’ what he texted them[/caption]

With Luke absent, Paula took his place as a guest judge, after being on the show for the first nine seasons.

“Paula did a great job! She did a great job,” Lionel said of having her there.

While Luke tested positive for Covid and that’s why he wasn’t able to be there, Paula said she had just gotten her second dose of the vaccine, which made her unsure if she’d be able to take the gig.

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Luke revealed his positive test to fans just hours before the show started[/caption]

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Fans were happy to see Paula but shocked when called former co-star Simon Cowell as ‘the STD’[/caption]

The 58-year-old said: “I got the call on Friday night and I was worried because I was getting my second vaccine and I thought, ‘Oh my God, what if I have a reaction?’”

“I was able to move my appointment to Saturday night, so yesterday I was feeling kind of crappy, but today I woke up fine. And it was fun!”

AI fans were left shocked after Paula called her nemesis, Simon Cowell, “the STD” on live TV.

Host Ryan Seacrest, 46, walked over to the panel with a special surprise, holding up an iPad with former judge Randy Jackson on the screen for a video chat.

Paula immediately gave a virtual hug to her longtime friend. 

“It’s so good to see you! We’re all back, now we just need the STD,” Paula said to Randy and Ryan – referring to their old co-star, Simon.