Katy Perry reflected on her upcoming parenthood as she judged this Sunday’s special Mother’s Day episode of American Idol.
The 35-year-old pop star is expecting a baby girl by her fiance Orlando Bloom and was eagerly anticipating the experience of bringing her up.
‘I don’t know exactly what it means yet to be a mother, although I’ve always felt very motherly to my friends and my fans and stuff,’ she said.
‘About to step into the next level’: Katy Perry reflected on her upcoming parenthood as she judged this Sunday’s special Mother’s Day episode of American Idol
‘But I know that I’m about to step into the next level,’ said Katy, who showed off her bump to viewers of the program.
‘She’s kicking too and she also kicks when the performances are good,’ Katy said about halfway through the episode.
‘So just so you know, let them be good but not too good, because it’s painful,’ the Roar singer joked to the contestants.
She joined fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as well as host Ryan Seacrest in introducing the audience to the final seven contestants.
There he is: She joined fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as well as host Ryan Seacrest (pictured) in introducing the audience to the final seven contestants.
Who will it be?: Eleven contestants were left at the beginning of the episode of which seven were selected to move ahead to the upcoming season finale
Eleven contestants were left at the beginning of the episode of which seven were selected to move ahead to the upcoming season finale.
All seven singers chosen had to perform a song from the Disney repertoire, giving their renditions from home via video conference.
Katy has been wowing audiences with her splashy costumes while judging from home and this episode was no different.
In keeping with the Disney theme she dressed up as Dumbo’s mother Mrs. Jumbo, with her dog Nugget dressed as Dumbo himself.
Sensation: Katy has been wowing audiences with her splashy costumes while judging from home and this episode was no different
On brand: In keeping with the Disney theme she dressed up as Dumbo’s mother Mrs. Jumbo, with her dog Nugget dressed as Dumbo himself
When Nepalese singer-songwriter Arthur Gunn was selected he was overwhelmed calling the experience ‘far beyond any wildest dream that you know.’
His Disney song selection was Kiss The Girl from The Little Mermaid, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman.
Arthur accompanied himself on guitar as he performed in a room with plants set up around him and blue light on the walls to give an underwater feel.
Katy was enthusiastic saying: ‘Arthur, you look relaxed, you look cool and I think overall you really engaged with us.’
Only the best: Arthur Gunn’s selection was Kiss The Girl from The Little Mermaid, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman
Having a ball: Katy was enthusiastic saying: ‘Arthur, you look relaxed, you look cool and I think overall you really engaged with us’
She ‘felt like we were all having a cocktail, me a mocktail, on the beach with you – it felt really relaxed and we all loved it.’
Luke marveled at Arthur’s ‘transition from a very softspoken, quiet guy to this truly potentially massive recording artist and I cannot wait to hear you make a record.’
Lionel noted that ‘anything you sing is gonna have the Arthur Gunn stamp on it,’ saying ‘you have your identity and you’re doing a great job selling it, man.’
Samantha Diaz, also known as Just Sam, was thrilled to be selected for the top seven and opted for A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella.
Distinction: Lionel noted that ‘anything you sing is gonna have the Arthur Gunn stamp on it,’ saying ‘you have your identity and you’re doing a great job selling it, man’
Classic: Samantha Diaz, also known as Just Sam, was thrilled to be selected for the top seven and opted for A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella
She gave a stirring performance of the number, which was written by Al Livingston, Mack David and Al Hoffman, against an animated background.
Her computerized backdrop showed multiple castles, keeping to the Disney theme, as well as dancing mice from the 1950 movie Cinderella.
Luke was thoroughly impressed saying ‘the amazing thing about your voice is just how it holds up at every level of your range.’
When Just Sam said she used to listen to the number ‘as a kid,’ Lionel was particularly taken with that phrase, telling her: ‘You are our kid.’
Making it happen: She gave a stirring performance of the number, which was written by Al Livingston, Mack David and Al Hoffman, against an animated background
Terrific: Luke was thoroughly impressed saying ‘the amazing thing about your voice is just how it holds up at every level of your range’
He said that when she began on the show ‘you weren’t quite sure of anything, and we watched you grow up right in front of us and now you have America and the world voting for you, not JUST Sam but Sam. You are a star, my dear.’
Katy said she ‘wanted a little bit more’ and pointed out that on American Idol ‘Jennifer Hudson came in seventh and she got an Oscar.’
When Jonny West was picked to move ahead he declared himself ‘very moved’ and ‘speechless’ before going ahead with his number.
His pick was Almost There, which was written by Randy Newman for the 2009 animated movie The Princess And The Frog.
Bowled over: When Jonny West was picked to move ahead he declared himself ‘very moved’ and ‘speechless’ before going ahead with his number
Jonny accompanied himself on the piano against a shifting backdrop that included animations of the film’s characters.
‘I have to say to you Jonny, you’re our casual assassin,’ said Lionel, explaining that ‘you make it look so effortless – amazing job.’
Katy called him ‘a concoction of Billy Joel, Randy Newman and Paul Simon’ and Luke said: ‘You’re an artist and deliverer and you know how to pick a song.’
Louis Knight sang Can You Feel The Love Tonight?, written by Tim Rice and Elton John for The Lion King, on a stage in his family’s backyard.
Having fun: His pick was Almost There, which was written by Randy Newman for the 2009 animated movie The Princess And The Frog
Place to be: Louis Knight sang Can You Feel The Love Tonight?, written by Tim Rice and Elton John for The Lion King, on a stage in his family’s backyard
Mixed reviews: ‘Niall Horan better watch out, ’cause you’re coming in quick,’ said Katy while Luke praised the ‘tenderness’ but said ‘it got a little linear after three quarters of the song’
‘Niall Horan better watch out, ’cause you’re coming in quick,’ said Katy while Luke praised the ‘tenderness’ but said ‘it got a little linear after three quarters of the song.’
Lionel guessed that ‘normally you have a crowd in front of you and you get to feed off that crowd’ and it was ‘kind of difficult to stay on the mark’ without an audience.
Julia Gargano stood in her backyard with sequins dangling from the wall behind her and performed Menken and Ashman’s title song from Beauty And The Beast.
Luke was then joined onscreen by his dog Choc and described themselves as a duo as ‘Beauty and the Beast right here!’
Fresh air: Julia Gargano stood in her backyard with sequins dangling from the wall behind her and performed Menken and Ashman’s title song from Beauty And The Beast
Man’s best friend: Luke was then joined onscreen by his dog Choc and described themselves as a duo as ‘Beauty and the Beast right here!’
He shared: ‘The song was a little bit low in my opinion but you still own those moments and great job on the performances,’ adding: ‘Choc approves.’
‘Julia, your lower registers is one thing – if you’re going to stay low concentrate a little bit more on your lower registers,’ Lionel advised.
The contestant shared that ‘so far this whole thing has made me a completely different artist and I’m so grateful for all this feedback.’
Francisco Martin was then selected to move ahead to the finale and was reduced to tears by the news, saying: ‘I can’t talk right now.’
By the way: ‘Julia, your lower registers is one thing – if you’re going to stay low concentrate a little bit more on your lower registers,’ Lionel advised
Taking it in stride: The contestant shared that ‘so far this whole thing has made me a completely different artist and I’m so grateful for all this feedback’
He proceeded to accompany himself on the guitar to the Phil Collins song You’ll Be In My Heart from the 1997 movie Tarzan.
Lionel was moved by the ‘transformation of Francisco,’ gushing that ‘you were actually smiling at yourself while you were performing.’
He praised Francisco for ‘giving us the confidence and the enjoyment,’ telling him that ‘we as the audience we love to see that kind of emotion.’
When Dillon James was selected for the top seven he gushed: ‘You’ve given me a heart attack!’ and his mother Lindy said: ‘Thank you, America!’
Delight: Francisco Martin was then selected to move ahead to the finale and was reduced to tears by the news, saying: ‘I can’t talk right now’
Soulful: He proceeded to accompany himself on the guitar to the Phil Collins song You’ll Be In My Heart from the 1997 movie Tarzan
What a moment: When Dillon James was selected for the top seven he gushed: ‘You’ve given me a heart attack!’ and his mother Lindy said: ‘Thank you, America!’
He was the last of the seven picked meaning Jovin Webb, Sophia James, Grace Leer and Makayla Phillips were officially eliminated.
Dillon sang Our Town from Cars and Katy showered him with praise: ‘I think you took everything we said last week and you applied it magnificently.’
‘You were a storyteller,’ said Lionel, telling Dillon that ‘I wasn’t thinking about the notes – I was watching you tell us a story.’
As an interlude last year’s American Idol winner Laine Hardy performed the Tom Cochrane song Life Is A Highway, which Rascal Flatts covered for Cars.
Made it through: He was the last of the seven picked meaning Jovin Webb, Sophia James, Grace Leer and Makayla Phillips were officially eliminated
Raves: Dillon sang Our Town from Cars and Katy showered him with praise: ‘I think you took everything we said last week and you applied it magnificently’
Returning champion: As an interlude last year’s American Idol winner Laine Hardy performed the Tom Cochrane song Life Is A Highway, which Rascal Flatts covered for Cars
The second half of the show was dedicated to the newly inaugurated final seven paying tribute to their mothers or mother figures.
‘I’m forever grateful to have you as my mom and I feel very blessed about it,’ Arthur told his mother Maiya in a heartwarming letter.
He told the audience ‘my mom has been always supporting of me playing music and she was the one who bought me my first guitar.’
Maiya and other family members then gathered round the living room to hear Arthur accompany himself on guitar singing Hey, Ma by Bon Iver.
So sweet: The second half of the show was dedicated to the newly inaugurated final seven paying tribute to their mothers or mother figures
‘Bought me my first guitar: ‘I’m forever grateful to have you as my mom and I feel very blessed about it,’ Arthur told his mother Maiya in a heartwarming letter
Serenade: Maiya and other family members then gathered round the living room to hear Arthur accompany himself on guitar singing Hey, Ma by Bon Iver
Lionel was over the moon about Arthur saying: ‘You could actually sing the phonebook and when I say that that’s a compliment.’
He shared that ‘the best part about it is no matter what you sing man it sounds like Arthur Gunn, and so this is what you want in a career.’
Sam got a video message from her grandmother, who was in lockdown away from her amid the coronavirus pandemic.
She proceeded to deliver a heartrending rendition of I Turn To You, which Christina Aguilera introduced on her self-titled album in 1999.
Moving: Sam got a video message from her grandmother, who was in lockdown away from her amid the coronavirus pandemic
Fab: She proceeded to deliver a heartrending rendition of I Turn To You, which Christina Aguilera introduced on her self-titled album in 1999
‘You’re the angel of this group,’ Lionel told her, assuring her that wherever she placed on the show ‘I’m gonna be Papa Lionel for the rest of your life.’
‘You’ve got so many tools, your mid-range has always been smooth as butter and you’ve left a forever mark on us and just think of the little girls out there that you’re inspiring week after week,’ Luke told her.
Jonny West treated his mother to a performance of Amazing Grace, told ‘from the perspective of her and her relationship with her faith.’
He had been hunkering down away from his mother but he surprised her by visiting her at his family’s house for Mother’s Day to spend the rest of lockdown there.
His own spin: Jonny West treated his mother to a performance of Amazing Grace, told ‘from the perspective of her and her relationship with her faith’
Family reunion: He had been hunkering down away from his mother but he surprised her by visiting her at his family’s house for Mother’s Day to spend the rest of lockdown there
‘I don’t know too many people that I can write the second verse Mother’s Day version of Amazing Grace,’ said Lionel. ‘That might have been a challenge even for me.’
Louis said he was ‘definitely a mummy’s boy’ to his mother Amanda, who ‘bought me my first piano when I was 14.’
He proceeded to sing You’ve Got A Friend by Carole King in a rendition that Lionel enjoyed for being ‘simple’ and ‘heartfelt.’
Julia arranged a ‘big parade’ on Mother’s Day for her mother, enlisting family and friends to drive by and whistle and shout well wishes.
‘That might have been a challenge even for me’: ‘I don’t know too many people that I can write the second verse Mother’s Day version of Amazing Grace,’ said Lionel
Side by side: Louis said he was ‘definitely a mummy’s boy’ to his mother Amanda, who ‘bought me my first piano when I was 14’
Well chosen: He proceeded to sing You’ve Got A Friend by Carole King in a rendition that Lionel enjoyed for being ‘simple’ and ‘heartfelt’
For her song selection Julia performed Sweetest Devotion by Adele, demonstrating the kind of relationship Katy said ‘I hope to have with my own daughter.’
Francisco cooked a bacon and eggs breakfast for his mother Fatima, a frontline worker whom he said helped him through a ‘rough patch in 2019.’
Calling her a ‘superhero,’ he shared that she ‘did everything in your power to see a smile on my face’ during his time of trouble.
Loving daughter: Julia arranged a ‘big parade’ on Mother’s Day for her mother, enlisting family and friends to drive by and whistle and shout well wishes
Perfect selection: For her song selection Julia performed Sweetest Devotion by Adele, demonstrating the kind of relationship Katy said ‘I hope to have with my own daughter’
Pillar of support: Francisco cooked a bacon and eggs breakfast for his mother Fatima, a frontline worker whom he said helped him through a ‘rough patch in 2019’
He then gave such a showstopping rendition of River by Leon Bridges that Luke said: ‘I think he beat the original record.’
‘When I saw barbecue sauce that’s what I’m talking about. The thing I love most is that your confidence is front and center. You’re no longer in your head,’ said Lionel.
Dillon, who is two years sober after battling addiction, said his mother Lindy ‘saved my life’ in a heartfelt letter she read aloud on TV.
Stunning: He then gave such a showstopping rendition of River by Leon Bridges that Luke said: ‘I think he beat the original record’
‘You’re no longer in your head’: ‘When I saw barbecue sauce that’s what I’m talking about,’ said Lionel, adding: ‘The thing I love most is that your confidence is front and center’
Grateful: Dillon, who is two years sober after battling addiction, said his mother Lindy ‘saved my life’ in a heartfelt letter she read aloud on TV
Lindy tearfully made her way through the entire letter but when he said he had ‘not always been a true son to you,’ she stopped and told him: ‘That’s not true.’
After he sang Hang On, Hang On by Amos Lee, Lionel told him: ‘There are kids out there struggling just like you went through your struggle.’
Lionel called Dillon a ‘fabulous inspiration to all of them and to all of us. This is the best of the best that you’ve been doing so far. I’m just so proud of you man.’
By her side: After he sang Hang On, Hang On by Amos Lee, Lionel told him: ‘There are kids out there struggling just like you went through your struggle’