Lionel Richie says Katy Perry's decision to exit American Idol 'makes sense'

Lionel Richie is addressing fellow American Idol judge Katy Perry's exit after the singer herself confirmed that the upcoming 22nd season will be her final season.

The singer talked about Perry's unexpected news during a Thursday interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Perry had also visited Live! earlier this week.

“It just made me run off the road when I first heard about it. My phone blew up,” Richie told Kimmel, also confirming that he wasn’t upset with the singer for unexpectedly dropping the news on the show.

Although Richie and fellow judge Luke Bryan "didn't know about it," Richie said that her decision to leave the show "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’ve done,” Richie said. “And so when Katy says, ‘I want to go and create some stories,’ remember, she’s young. But the point is that you have to take some time and actually be an artist.”

Perry reaffirmed her affection for the show and that it helped her feel "with the heart of America" as she gave Kimmel an explanation of her choice.

Richie stated that information on Perry's replacement is being kept "tight-lipped."

“I don’t even know, but I’m telling you … It’s gonna 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 pooh-bahs, the three of us, and we’re sitting there, and we’re all kind of giving information that we know is real.”

Whoever sits at the judges' table, according to Richie, must "be humorous forever and, on top of that, knowledgeable."