Katy Perry unexpectedly put on the biggest display on Monday’s episode of American Idol as she showed off a huge split in the back of her pants.
The 33-year-old pop superstar wore a truly eye-catching silver top and pants for the key round where half of the remaining 24 got to perform duets with their own idols to try to get to the final 14.
But the I Kissed A Girl singer soon discovered her dazzling outfit’s limitations when she tried to tease co-star Luke Bryan by standing and sitting to mimic his actions.
Silver siren: Katy Perry stole the show on Sunday’s episode of American Idol as the back of her pants ripped
‘I just split my pants!’ Katy suddenly screeched in the middle of his critique of a performer, adding after an awkward pause: ‘I’m sorry … not really.’
Katy then proved she was not playing when she stood up — and gave a full view of the split backside of her pants, with her modesty covered by an American Idol logo on screens while the shocked looks of those in the audience proved there was plenty to see.
Her fellow judges screeched with shock and obvious amusement, with Luke pretending his eyes hurt as he looked away laughing.
Lionel Richie, meanwhile, laughed as told the audience ‘don’t go to the exits yet!’
Strategically placed: A strategically placed American Idol logo covered up Katy
Looking away: Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan looked away as Katy’s pants split
Good times: Maddie Poppe who was being critiqued by the judges and host Ryan Seacrest looked on as Katy split her pants
Audience reaction: The studio audience in Los Angeles also reacted to the wardrobe malfunction
‘Tape it! Tape my butt!’ Katy pleaded, with a female crew member finally coming to the side of the stage and helping her come up with a quick fix to hide her modesty.
The night saw the contestants get a rare opportunity to sing with some of the biggest names in music — but with Toni Braxton and Jessie J both falling sick at the last minute sending some of the contestants in a panic.
They were helped out instead by last-minute replacement Allen Stone as well as country star Cam, joining other real-life idols Lea Michele, Rachel Platten, and Banners.
Emergency repair: The pop star asked for someone to tape her butt
But the episode was an even bigger deal for stars Bebe Rexha and Colbie Caillat — both of whom had previously unsuccessfully auditioned for the show before finally finding fame on their own.
‘The funny thing is I auditioned for American Idol, but I didn’t make it,’ Bebe told contestant Amelia Hammer Harris who praised her for ‘paying it forward’ now as a star.
‘So for all of you watching out there — you just never know! And here we are,’ Bebe told viewers.
Colbie Caillat, meanwhile, admitted: ‘I auditioned for American Idol twice.
‘I actually came in with my song Bubbly. But I wasn’t ready at all, I had such stage fright and I realized I had a lot of work to do with myself,’ she told contestant Maddie Poppe.
Calling finally making it to Idol ‘pretty bizarre,’ the irony was only heightened when the 22-year-old Colbie got to perform her hit Bubbly — the song she said she first brought to Idol when she auditioned aged 17 — on the big stage.
Katy used their stories for words of encouragement for the five performers who were let go at the end of the night.
‘You guys are all phenomenal singers-slash-stars, and you got to duet with a couple of people tonight that never made it on the show that are bonafide stars,’ she told them. ‘So if that doesn’t give you a greater example of, like, “I can do it”…’
Young rocker Mara Justine, 15, was first to get sent through to the next round after an emotional performance with Rachel Platten and her retooled hit Fight Song that the youngster cracked with tears at the end.
And she was not the only one, with host Ryan Seacrest coming on with watery eyes, his voice cracking as he said: ‘I’m gonna cry! That was… like, don’t ever end!’
Idol auditions: Duet guests Bebe Rexha and Colbie Caillat both revealed that they auditioned for American Idol unsuccessfully
Field narrowing: The field was narrowed to the top 14 as five of the remaining dozen contestants from the top 24 were eliminated
First through: Mara Justine was the first to advance to the top 14 after her duet with Rachel Platten
Mara related to the lyrics saying she doesn’t ‘fit in’ and feels ‘lost’ at school, with Rachel encouraging her to join her in singing alone at the piano to show the ‘tenderness and vulnerability’ the judges previously sought from her.
‘I mean, way to shine at the right time,’ Luke told her, while Katy said: ‘I thought what we saw tonight was so beautiful. I think Rachel really gave you a gift and that was such a beautiful moment.’
Mara had more tears after the performance, telling Rachel backstage: ‘I felt it, and I want to do that for the rest of my life.’
Reworked version: Rachel retooled her hit tune Fight Song to help show Mara’s vulnerability
Killed it: Mara backstage told Rachel, ‘I felt it, and I want to do that for the rest of my life’
‘You will,’ Rachel smiled.
Jurnee was next to go through after a duet with her idol Lea Michele and her tune Run To You.
Jurnee had admitted she was ‘freaking out’ at even meeting the star, saying: ‘I told myself I’d be cool but I’ve been obsessed with her forever. I remember watching Glee and being like, “I want to be as hard a worker as Rachel Berry” and I never thought I would get a chance to sing with her. It’s dope.’
Awesome journey: Jurnee was ‘freaking out’ over her duet with her idol Lea Michele
But Lea insisted she was the lucky one, telling the judges Jurnee is ‘one of the kindest, sweetest people’ and adding: ‘I just want to be around her, and her talent and her energy. I haven’t been so excited to sing this song, like, ever.
‘This was a dream come true for me, singing with her.’
Lionel told her: ‘Your name is now going to be your title forever because the journey you’re taking us on is unbelievable.
Mutual admiration: Lea had nothing but kind words to say about Jurnee
‘The sky is the limit for you, I really mean that.’
Maddie was third to go through thanks to her duet with Colbie with her hit Bubbly, with the star helping her handle stage fright, insisting: ‘We’re in it together.’
‘Maddie, I think you’re probably our most complete artist. I love ya, I’m sold,’ Luke told her — before Katy interrupted at realizing she had split her pants.
Complete artist: Maddie after her duet with Colbie to Bubbly was praised by Luke for being the show’s most ‘complete artist’
Drag queen Ada Vox was next through after Lea again helped out, this time with the Broadway tune Defying Gravity.
At the end of their performance, Lea insisted she ‘didn’t have to do anything’ to help Ada prepare, saying: ‘This voice is out of control, and getting to sing with someone with this vocal caliber was a real honor.’
‘Let me just tell you something – a star is born,’ Lionel told the contestant, who had auditioned years earlier as Adam Sanders before finding her voice as Ada.
Dynamic duo: Ada Vox and Lea crushed the Broadway tune Defying Gravity
‘There’s no denying your presence, there’s no denying your voice, there’s no — you are a statement. I applaud you.’
The night’s first performer, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, was next to go through thanks to his duet with Bebe on her hit with Florida Georgia Line, Meant To Be.
The star clearly made a mark on him — with him blushing and fanning himself off after he got to kiss her on the cheek as she left the stage, deadpanning: ‘That’s my best friend Bebe Rexha.’
Country singer: Caleb Lee Hutchinson advanced after his duet with Bebe to her hit Meant To Be with Florida Georgia Line
‘I’ve never seen that shade of red before,’ Katy teased him, while Luke insisted: ‘Nobody has “aww shucks country boy” down better than you, man.’
Backstage, Caleb told Bebe: ‘If that was my last thing, I couldn’t be more proud.’
‘Awww — me too!’ she replied.
Nailed it: Bebe and Caleb impressed with their duet
Garrett Jacobs was next to go through, but not before Katy called him ‘Oh my gosh, dreamboat, hello USA!’ — and he was surprised by his girlfriend in the audience despite her insisting she could not make the show because of her finals.
‘You guys are the sweetest two people in all of the United States of America,’ Ryan told them as she hugged him onstage, with her admitting she ‘was in tears’ hearing Garrett sing Lucky that he said made him think of her.
Joining Colbie on the duet of her hit with Jason Mraz, he said: ‘I feel like I have some big shoes to fill — and I just hope I have some big feet to fill ’em.’
Cute couple: Garrett Jacobs who also advanced was surprised by his girlfriend in attendance
After a pause, he smiled: ‘I wear a size 14 so I think I’ll be alright.’
‘You’re a natural and you did great,’ Colbie told him, while Katy said: ‘It was beautiful and I believe that you’re super cool now.’
‘That was a really, really great step in the right direction,’ Luke said. ‘I was proud of you there old buddy.’
Great step: Luke told Garrett that he made a ‘really, really great step in the right direction’
His pick left six contestants vying for the final place — with young dad Marcio Donaldson bursting into tears at getting picked.
He had been one of the most nervous after who he called ‘the legend herself, Miss Toni Braxton’ had to pull out sick on the final rehearsal day, with Allen Stone stepping in at the last moment.
‘He saved me,’ Marcio said.
Last moment: Allen Stone stepped in to duet with Marcio Donaldson who had been looking forward to singing with ‘the legend herself, Miss Toni Braxton’
Their duet on Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On had the judges all jumping to their feet to dance, with Lionel telling him: ‘It was a spiritual moment. Now just let that magic shine — I love you, love you.’
It left some of the season’s favorites in Alyssa Raghu, Amelia Hammer Harris, Effie Passero, Ron Bultongez, and Shannon O’Hara all going home.
Effie had been in a similar crisis when Jesse J fell ill, with her insisting she learned country star Cam’s Diana in just 15 minutes to perform with her.
Spiritual moment: Marcio stepped up and got the judges jumping to their feet with their duet of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On
‘If you can remember the lyrics in 15 minutes and handle it like you did you’re on fire,’ Lionel had told her, making her exit a clear shock.
Amelia Hammer Harris also sang with Bebe on her hit with G-Eazy, Me, Myself & I, and her departure was also a surprise.
Katy told her: ‘I think you’re a star. I think you can be anything that you want to be. I think your voice is amazing and I hope for more time with you.’
Tough deal: Effie Passero also had a last-minute change as Jessie J was ill for their duet
Shannon O’Hara, meanwhile, was sent home despite being told she put on a ‘masterclass’ of how to duet when she sang Burning House with Cam, which Lionel called ‘mesmerizing,’ while Katy added: ‘My jaw’s on the floor because I keep forgetting that she’s 17. I mean that voice is something to be respected.’
Ron Bultongez, however, had clearly struggled with Banners on his Someone To You, failing to remember all the words and with Katy telling him: ‘I wasn’t perfect but perfection is boring.’
Even so, Luke insisted: ‘I believe that your this figure that’s anointed to be special, man. You just have a special thing that pulls people in.’
Clearly struggling: Ron Bultongez struggled with the lyrics with Banners on his song Someone To You
Nice try: The singer gave it a good effort, but failed to make the top 14
Alyssa Raghu, 15, failed to wow the judges with her take on Coldplay’s Yellow, again with UK star Banner, with Lionel admitting: ‘I know what you can do, but that didn’t give me what you shine on.’
Alyssa admitted to fears in tackling such a well-known song, saying: ‘It’s like the National Anthem — you don’t want to mess it up.’
But the performance of Yellow did mean a dream come true for Banner, real name Michael Nelson, whose dad Ken Nelson produced the hit for the then unknown British pop band.
Fell short: Alyssa Raghu fell flat with her rendition of Coldplay’s Yellow
‘Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be Chris Martin and I wanted to play this song on a stage,’ he said. ‘So you’ve given me an opportunity to do it.’
The top 14 will tape performances on Saturday that will air on Sunday followed by a live results show on Monday as the field narrows to the top 10.
The top 10 will perform on Disney Night on April 29 a few weeks ahead of the season finale on May 21.
Going home: Ryan consoled the five singers sent home
Next round: The top 14 will perform on Saturday with their performances shown on Sunday’s episode on ABC