Ahead of tonight’s seventh season premiere of “American Idol,” launching this evening on ABC, judge Katy Perry announced last week that the show’s new season will be her last.

Appearing on the Monday, February 12 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Perry revealed to host Jimmy Kimmel that she has decided to pursue other projects, such as the Rock in Rio music festival in Brazil later this fall, something “Idol” would normally prevent due to scheduling. As such, “I think this will be my last show,” Perry noted, adding, “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to feel that pulse to my own beat, you know what I’m saying, Jimmy?”

When asked by Kimmel what Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have to say about her departure news, Perry stunned the audience, saying, “Well, they’ll find out tonight.” She clarified that while they are learning of her exit on Kimmel’s show, the news wouldn’t be so surprising considering, “They know that I have some things planned for this year. It’s going to be a very exciting year — for all pop star girlies.”

As for a succession plan by “Idol” producers when it comes to replacing her as a judge, Perry only stated, “Let’s just say I’m creating space for my new wing span.” Meanwhile, she said of her colleagues, “I love them so much,” to which Kimmel interrupted her, saying, “But you didn’t tell them.” Perry nodded in agreement but noted, “They know, they know. They figured I’ve been in the studio for a while, so they figured something was up.”

On the Thursday, February 15 episode of Kimmel’s show, Lionel Richie appeared as a guest and responded to Perry’s upcoming exit from the series.

“I’m not mad,” said Richie after Kimmel asked him if he was, knowing that Perry announced her departure on the late-night show before telling those she closely worked with. “It just made me run off the road when I first heard it,” joked the music legend. He noted, “It makes sense. In other words, the reason I love coming on the show here with you and the reason I’m doing ‘American Idol’ is because I have 400 years of stories and a life in the music business. I have things that I have done, and so when Katie says, ‘I want to go and create some stories,’ … but the point is you have to go and take some time and actually be an artist.”

When Kimmel asked him who he’d like to see replace Perry, Richie said, “They are keeping tight lip because I don’t even know but I’m telling you, it’s going to be really interesting. Only because I’m telling you something, this is a great show, and what I love most of all is that we’re artists, so we know what we’re talking about, and these kids are scared to death, so I love sitting there as the wise papa of the three of us sitting there, and we’re all kind of giving information that we know is real. So, whoever is coming on the show has got to be, well, come past Katie, you got to be humorous forever and on top of that, knowledgeable.”

To hear what both Perry and Richie had to say about Perry and her exit from “American Idol,” plus what fans can expect from the show’s new season, watch the clips below.