Katy Perry’s born-again parents mercilessly embarrassed their superstar daughter on Sunday’s episode of American Idol.
Mary Christine and Maurice Keith Hudson are both Pentecostal pastors who raised Katy in a strictly religious manner in Santa Barbara, California.
Keith is a 70-year-old preacher, who used to be an LSD-dropping reveler. He later ‘found god’ and began spreading the gospel alongside his wife Mary, who is also 70.
Superstar daughter: Katy Perry was embarrassed by her parents on Sunday’s episode of American Idol
Religious parents: Mary Christine and Maurice ‘Keith’ Hudson raised Katy in a strictly religious manner in Santa Barbara, California
The couple have reportedly had a strained relationship with Katy since she became a pop star, with Keith regularly preaching about her ungodliness, and his disapproval of her former husband Russell Brand, 42.
The flamboyantly dressed couple showed up on Idol, and didn’t hold back with their opinions.
Host Ryan Seacrest, 43, asked how it felt to watch their 33-year-old daughter on the judging panel.
‘She’s still the bird, she’s still mouthy, and they add wisdom to that,’ said Mary, while gesturing to Katy’s fellow judges 68-year-old funk/soul/R&B legend Lionel Richie and 41-year-old country star Luke Bryan.
Good question: Ryan Seacrest asked Katy’s parents what it was like watching their daughter judge American Idol
Ryan then asked Katy’s dad if his daughter had always been ‘mouthy’.
‘Um, yeah,’ he confirmed, while Katy squirmed in her seat.
‘She’s the middle child, they always want the most attention,’ chimed in Mary.
Always mouth: Katy’s dad Keith confirmed that she’s always been ‘mouthy’
Middle child: The pop star’s mother Mary said Katy was a middle child and ‘they always want the most attention’
‘I feel like it’s turned out OK for them,’ yelled Katy, who had a fixed grin plastered across her face.
The cringe-worthy moment came during the audition process for the top 24 contestants for season 16 of American Idol.
The guest mentor was Bobby Bones, a 38-year-old country music megastar.
Fixed grin: Katy kept a fixed grin while Ryan interviewed her parents
Guest mentor: The show leaned on guest mentor Bobby Bones, a 38-year-old country music megastar
Katy mentioned her parents religion again after the last performance of the night, which came from former rodeo man Cade Foehner.
The 21-year-old Texan did a rocking performance of Jimi Hendrix’s All Along The Watchtower.
Luke joked about the ‘hip thrusts’ while Katy pretended to be worried by the sexual nature of Cade’s routine.
Rocking out: Cade Foehner was last up and rocked out to All Along The Watchtower
‘Are we allowed to show this on ABC? I saw some things that my minister parents had to…,’ she gasped in mock horror.
‘I’m a minister too, so it’s OK,’ said Cade.
‘You sure are a minister and you can preach to me any time you want,’ cooed Katy, who then removed her sequined cardigan and lurched towards Cade.
Sexual nature: Katy had to be restrained by Lionel Richie as she jokingly sought out Cade
Luke and Lionel restrained her and draped her cardigan over her body while she faked a fainting fit.
The first performer of the night was 26-year-old Alabama singer Dominique Posey, with Ain’t Nobody by Chaka Khan.
‘You have arrived,’ said Katy.
Covered up: The Firework singer was covered up by her cardigan by Lionel and fellow judge Luke Bryan
‘That was the star attraction,’ agreed Lionel.
Next was Kentucky charmer Layla Spring, with Martina McBride’s A Broken Wing.
‘You really dug in,’ Katy told the 16-year-old, while Luke called her ‘mature’ for her age.
Teen talent: Layla Spring had a voice beyond her 16 years
Nailed it: The Kentucky charmer nailed Martina McBride’s A Broken Wing
Quirky 17-year-old Catie Turner dressed up 80’s style for Blondie’s Call Me.
‘She owns it honey,’ raved Katy.
‘I couldn’t quit watching you,’ agreed Luke.
Hair down: Catie Turner let her hair down for her version of Blondie’s Call Me
High praise: Luke said that he couldn’t stop watching Catie
Dennis Lorenzo confessed that his father was murdered ‘on the streets of Philadelphia’ when he was only age five.
The 26-year-old did Rude by Magic!
The judges questioned his song selection but Lionel said he still ‘brought the flavor’.
Magical performance: Dennis Lorenzo took on Rude by Magic! and the judges questioned his song choice
‘I love your stage presence,’ said Luke.
Sassy and bilingual Venezuelan singer Michelle Sussett tried her luck with Beyoncé’s If I Were a Boy, with some Spanish thrown in.
‘That is your ace my darling, and play it well,’ said Katy, while Luke praised the 22-year-old’s vocal ‘tone’.
Bilingual singer: Michelle Sussett took Katy’s advice and tried out a bilingual version of Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy
Star power: The Venezuelan singer was praised for star power and ‘tone’
Philadelphia bowling alley attendant Michael J. Woodard did The Beatles song Golden Slumbers.
‘I think Micheal…you are so chosen,’ Katy told the smiling teenager.
Next up was 22-year-old Trevor McBane with Way Down We Go by Kaleo.
Chose one: Michael J. Woodard impressed with his rendition of Golden Slumbers
The bearded Oklahoman, who is an orphan, explained that he dresses the way he does as a tribute to his dead parents.
‘He’s like a thunderbolt in a bottle,’ exclaimed Katy who said she wanted to see him ‘blow’.
Lionel advised the goat farmer to ‘let it out’ a bit more.
Goat farmer: Trevor McBane performed Way Down We Go by Kaleo
Jonny Brenns, an 18-year-old college student from Florida, did Vance Joy’s Georgia.
‘Jonny, am I sensing the sexy coming out?’ asked Lionel.
Adding: ‘You remind me so much of me, because at the start of my career they kept telling me ”kiss the girl in the front row” and by the end of my career they were saying ”stop kissing the girls in the front row”,’ he joked.
College student: Jonny Brenns with the support of his family took on Georgia by Vance Joy
‘Your song choice was dead on,’ said Katy.
Next was 18-year-old New Hampshire resident Kay Kay, with Rihanna’s Love On The Brain.
‘You were just born as a star,’ said Luke.
Hit song: Kay Kay performed Rihanna’s hit song Love On The Brain
‘Tonight, the full package has finally arrived,’ agreed Katy.
Virginia man Brandon Diaz was brave enough to try Lionel Richie’s Hello.
Bobby Bones advised the 21-year-old to make the famous song his own without taking ‘too many creative liberties’.
The judges: Lionel, Katy and Luke are judges for American Idol on its new home with ABC
‘Wow,’ exclaimed Lionel, who thought he could have ‘owned it’ a bit more.
‘You owned it at the end, but I must admit, I was terrified for you,’ added the music legend, who then comically duetted the track with Brandon and Ryan Seacrest.
Country artist Gabby Barrett belted out My Church by Maren Morris.
The legend: Brandon Diaz sang Lionel’s song Hello and the singing legend joined him and Ryan for a sing-along
‘I have never in my life watched a person get to the end of the song and then blow me away,’ Lionel told the 17-year-old ‘daddy’s girl’, who hails from Pennsylvania.
‘That was super cool,’ grinned Katy.
American Idol continues on Monday on ABC.
Country artist: Gabby Barrett belted out My Church by Maren Morris
Super cool: Katy told the Pittsburgh teenager that her performance was ‘super cool’