Was Katy Perry a Judge on American Idol?

Katy Perry served as a judge on American Idol during the show's 2018 season (season 16), making her tenure limited to one year on the broadcast network iteration of the competition. She joined long-standing judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, with Sean Ardoin appearing in a recurring on-screen role but not as a main judge. Perry's single-season commitment concluded after the finale, and she did not return for subsequent seasons on ABC. The following article explains her role in detail, the context of her season, and how her involvement fits into the broader history of the show.