Katy revealed the emotional reason behind picking a contestant’s song as she broke down in tears

KATY Perry lay down in shock over a huge American Idol performance on Monday night.

The 39-year-old singer said she was speechless after contestant Abi Carter took to the stage and sang Bring Me Back To Life by Evanescence.

Katy Perry was shaken by a huge American Idol performance on Monday night

Contestant Abi Carter sang Bring Me Back To Life by Evanescence

Katy was spotted with her mouth wide open several times during Abi’s performance. And after the singer belted her final note, Katy could not contain herself.

Abi’s strobe lighting dropped and she was plunged into darkness with a smoke machine adding to the atmosphere.

She donned a long black tulle dress and chunky leather boots that added to her rock-and-roll style.

The camera panned to a wide shot and Katy appeared to have left her seat on the judging panel.

Fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan were on their feet clapping.

Katy had left her chair and lay across the judging panel with her hands resting on her chest.

Luke held his hands over her as if he was praying for her while Lionel was cheering to the crowd.

On stage, Abi was laughing in shock and enjoying the cheers.

Luke then pretended to take Katy’s pulse before host Ryan Seacrest and Abi walked down to the panel.

Everyone gathered around Katy before Luke asked her for her thoughts while she was still lying down.

Katy Perry breaks down in tears over American Idol’s Emmy Russell’s rendition of her grandma Loretta Lynn’s iconic song “What say you Abi?” she replied.

“I say thank you,” Abi replied.

“You chose this song,” Abi added when Katy asked why she was thanking her.

It was then revealed that Luke chose the song, which caused all the judges to step back in shock while Luke celebrated.

You just kicked down all four walls of the box that I thought you were in

Katy PerryAmerican Idol

Luke hugged Abi and then started dancing while chanting “mic drop.”

KATY’S COMMENTS

Abi and Ryan returned to the stage where they received the judge’s comments.

When asked for her thoughts, Katy kicked her leg up onto the desk and leaned forward into the microphone.

“You just kicked down all four walls of the box that I thought you were in,” Katy shouted.

“That was something brand new and that was the best performance of the night so far.”

Katy held her leg up and kicked it several times.

This was not the first time of the night Katy gave a huge reaction, with the star breaking down at another performance.

EMOTIONAL TIMES

The last performer of the evening was Emmy Russell, 25, the granddaughter of the late singer Loretta Lynn, who sang her family member’s song Coal Miner’s Daughter.

“I love singing from the heart. I think this is a perfect song for that,” Emmy said in a confessional.

“I mean, it’s my grandma’s song, can’t get much closer to the heart than your own blood.

“I know Coal Miner’s Daughter like the back of my hand. I think I want to do it [as it’s] almost like a way of hugging her.

“I need to be proud that I am a granddaughter of Loretta Lynn.”

The judges were blown away by her huge performance and Katy revealed she chose the song.

“I chose this song not because Loretta Lynn is your grandma,” Katy revealed in a shaky voice.

“I chose this song because you are Emmy Russell and you can do anything now as Emmy Russell.”

Loretta died in her sleep on October 4, 2022, in Nashville. She was 90 years old.

Katy lay down on the judge’s desk after the performance

Abi left the judges speechless at her performance

Katy broke down in tears at Emmy’s song