Katy Perry’s tenure on American Idol was under the spotlight after a former contestant–turned–music superstar opened up about their interactions.

According to the rising star, Katy told them she was ‘glad’ that they left the long-running music competition series when they ran into each other years later. 

Katy, 40, first joined the series as a celebrity judge for season 16 in 2018, and stepped down six years later in 2024 after season 22.

It was in early 2021 that her path crossed with the future singing sensation when they competed in season 21.

During an appearance Wednesday on Scott Mills’ BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show, the Grammy Award nominee Benson Boone opened up about catching up with Katy years after he decided to leave American Idol.

He admitted to bumping into the singer — who has been beset by rumors that her relationship with fiancé Orlando Bloom is in trouble — a ‘couple months ago’ and learned that she seemed to be happy that he had quite the show.

Katy Perry’s tenure on American Idol was under the spotlight after a former contestant–turned–music superstar opened up about their interactions; pictured in 2022 in LA

According to the rising star, Katy, 40, told them she was ‘glad’ that they left the long-running music competition series when they ran into each other years later; seen in 2023 in LA

Boone was asked if he thought Katy believes that she had ‘discovered’ him on American Idol.

During his stint on the series, she said on camera that he had what it took to win the competition, adding that viewers were ‘gonna swoon for Benson Boone.’

‘Do you want to know the actual truth?’ Benson replied. ‘I actually think she is really glad that I left the show.’

After the two had a chance to catch up a recent awards ceremony, the TikTok sensation came away thinking that Katy was ‘really happy’ for him.

However, he also thought she was ‘really worried’ for his future.

‘I think she understands that when you’re starting to go through all of this, like, there’s just a lot of hate coming your way, a lot of people that want things from you, so she was more just checking in on me,’ he explained.

Though Katy was widely mocked for her recent Blue Origin space flight, Benson declared that she ‘actually really is a lovely person.’

‘She told me, she was like, “Leaving that show was, like, the best thing you ever did.” I think she just understands, like, I didn’t even know if I wanted to do music at that time.’

On Wednesday, Benson Boone talked on Scott Mills’ BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show about running into Katy years after being on American Idol. He appeared on the show in 2021 as a baby-faced contestant without his signature mustache

‘I actually think she is really glad that I left the show,’ he said, adding that she was ‘really happy’ for him; Katy is seen with Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on American Idol

Despite his misgivings as American Idol was poised to make him a star, Boone later found his way back to music on his own terms.

He had already established himself as a popular TikTok performer and singer before auditioning for the series, but the baby-faced performer — who didn’t yet have his instantly recognizable mustache — blew away Katy and fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan at his audition, where he also showed that he could play passable piano.

After Benson admitted that he wasn’t a singer growing up, Lionel declared him a ‘natural talent,’ and Luke urged him to ‘have fun’ with his voice now that he had discovered it.

Katy dramatically added, ‘I’m gonna tell you something that you may not believe, but if you believe it it might happen. I see American Idol, and I see you, and I see you winning American Idol… if you want to.’

An awe-struck Benson said that was the ‘biggest compliment’ he had ever received. 

He was invited to continue on to Hollywood Week, a round of multiple performances that helps weed out the large group of singers who had survived the initial auditions.

But shortly after he was selected as part of the final 24 contestants, Benson opted to end his run on American Idol, which led the series to not broadcast his Hollywood Week performances. 

But Benson wasn’t done with the music industry, and months later Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds signed him to his label Night Street Records via a deal with Warner Records. 

He added that she was ‘really worried’ for him. ‘I think she understands that when you’re starting to go through all of this, like, there’s just a lot of hate coming your way, a lot of people that want things from you, so she was more just checking in on me,’ he said; seen in December

During his Idol audition, Katy said audiences were ”gonna swoon for Benson Boone,’ adding that she could see him ‘winning American Idol’

But he left after making it to the final 24 contestants, and his Hollywood Week performances were never aired. He scored a record deal from Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds later in 2021; seen in December in NYC

He scored a series of hits after establishing himself as a TikTok sensation, culminating with his 2024 hit Beautiful Things, which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100; seen in December in NYC

His first single, Ghost Town, just barely scraped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with a peak at number 100, but the song had longevity after gaining exposure on TikTok, and it later was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

His 2022 single, In The Stars, did even better. It only topped out at 82 on the Hot 100, but it went on to be certified 2x Platinum. 

Benson’s career seemed to floundering after multiple singles in 2022 and 2023 that failed to chart, but he came roaring back last year with his biggest success to date, the single Beautiful Things. 

The song was buoyed by its omnipresent status on TikTok and Instagram, and it reached number two on the Hot 100 and was certified 5x Platinum. 

Since then, he has had multiple top 40 hits, including last year’s Slow It Down and this year’s songs Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else and Mystical Magical.

Benson looked back on his auspicious first encountering with Katy just as she has been inundated with fan fears for the state of her relationship with her fiancé Orlando Bloom.

Yesterday, the 48-year-old Lord Of The Rings star was reported by TMZ to be attending Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding in Italy without Katy by his side.

But the absence turned out to be because Katy had a prior commitment, as she is touring in Australia at the moment.

Benson’s memories of his interaction with Katy come amid concerns that her relationship with fiancé Orlando Bloom is ‘on the rocks’; seen with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in 2023 in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Katy’s widely mocked space flight, the critical revulsion her album 143 earned and the poor reviews her ongoing tour have received have all reportedly added to the strain in her relationship with Orlando; seen with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in 2023 in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Still, the couple have been apart for much of the past month, raising concerns of a potential split.

A source previously told People magazine that ‘They’re pretty much done,’ while an insider alleged to Page Six that ‘It’s over’ and the two are ‘just waiting until the tour is done before they split.’ 

A friend of the couple exclusively told DailyMail.com that the couple are ‘are on the rocks’ this week. 

Perry and Bloom first met in January 2016. They had a brief breakup in 2017, but later reconciled by March 2018.

The pair got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2019 and welcomed their daughter, Daisy, in August 2020.

Bloom also has a 13-year-old son named Flynn with his ex-wife, Miranda Kerr, 42.

Katy’s widely mocked space flight, the critical revulsion her album 143 earned and the poor reviews her ongoing tour have received have all reportedly added to the strain in her relationship with Orlando.