'Made me run off the road': Lionel Richie says Katy Perry's 'American Idol' exit took him by surprise

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a conversation on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on Thursday, February 16, Lionel Richie revealed that he was driving when he learned the surprising news regarding the departure of fellow 'American Idol' judge Katy Perry.

The 'Firework' hitmaker announced her departure from 'American Idol' during her appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on Monday night, February 12. The upcoming Season 22 will be her last.

Perry's shocking announcement came eight months after sources exclusively told Daily Mail that the 39-year-old pop felt like she was "thrown under the bus" by the show's producers.

Lionel Richie speaks out about Katy Perry’s 'American Idol' exit

The 'Hello' crooner, 74, declared he was unaware of Perry's intentions to withdraw from the popular singing competition, but he thought the choice "made sense".

"I'm not mad. It just made me run off the road when I first heard about it. My phone blew up," Richie told Kimmel, adding he was not angry with the singer for revealing the news on the show without notice.

"No, we didn’t know about it, but it makes sense," Richie stated about Perry's decision on her February 12 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's show.

Richie further explained, "In other words: The reason I love coming on the show 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."

"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," he stated.

While pointing out that executives were being extremely "tight-lipped" about it, Richie also hinted at potential successors to Perry as judge, promising "it's gonna be really interesting," per OK! Magazine.

"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 poo-bahs, the three of us, and we’re sitting there and we’re all kind of giving information that we know is real," Richie added.

The Grammy-winning 'Endless Love' singer concluded, "So whoever’s coming on the show has got to be, well, to come past Katy, you’ve gotta be humorous forever, and, on top of that, knowledgeable."

Sources claimed 'American Idol' bosses considering major panelist revamp

According to sources, 'American Idol' producers are seeking to get Jennifer Lopez back on the judging panel. They also claim that after Perry's shocking exit announcement this week, executives may think about changing up the entire panel.

"A return from the past is on the cards," an insider exclusively told Daily Mail. "J.Lo will be asked to come back. When people come back, things work... people like nostalgia, and people like Jen. It would be a big get to get her back."

They went on, "The show could also go younger and have a younger voice in the mix, because if they keep Luke and Lionel, they want someone who is a bit of a firecracker. They would consider changing the entire panel if need be, even though they love Lionel and Luke."

The two have been judges since the return of the series in 2018.