‘I need to feel that pulse of my own beat’

Katy Perry is leaving “American Idol.”

Appearing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Monday night, the “Firework” hitmaker announced news of her departure to an unsuspecting audience.

After host Jimmy Kimmel asked the singer how long she plans to remain as a judge on the hit ABC show, Perry said that the upcoming 22nd season will be her last.

“Well, you know, this fall, this September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio. It’s really exciting,” she shared. “It’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially my Brazilian fans.”

“So I think this will probably be my last season for Idol,” added Perry, who has been a judge on the show alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan since its revival in 2018.

After gasps from the audience, the mom of one continued, “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America. But I need to feel that pulse of my own beat.”

The “Daisies” hitmaker hinted at new music on the horizon, and possibly a world tour to accompany.

After Kimmel asked what the fellow judges’ reaction was to Perry’s shock exit, the singer quipped, “Well, they’ll find out tonight.”

Later that day, Perry confirmed her departure from the judges panel in a post on Instagram.

“Let’s play two truths and a lie: 1. I beat @usher at Monopoly Deal. 2. I’m headlining Rock in Rio this September. 3. This is my last season on @americanidol,” she captioned the snaps.

Perry’s exit comes months after sources claimed that she expressed a strong desire to quit “Idol” after six years on the show.

The 39-year-old has long been the subject of several online rants by die-hard fans of the show, who complained about the “California Gurls” singer’s provocative — and sometimes “rude” — coaching methods.

Perry also reportedly claimed the producers of “Idol” intentionally edited footage to make her look like the “nasty” judge.

“Katy feels like [the producers] threw her under the bus,” an insider told the Daily Mail in May. “She feels like her comments could have been removed.”

Perry’s descent into the quagmire of criticism began in April when the “Last Friday Night” singer seemingly mom-shamed Sara Beth Liebe, 25, who quit the show after saying she wanted to spend more time with her three children.

The “Dark Horse” singer also faced blowback when fans said she was waging “psychological warfare” on two contestants.