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Backstage Country

Luke Bryan Defends Katy Perry, Who Got Booed On ‘Idol’

Luke Bryan talked with us before he performed at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest over the weekend. When asked about it, he defended his fellow American Idol judge Katy Perry,…

Luke Bryan Defends Katy Perry Getting Booed On 'Idol'
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Luke Bryan talked with us before he performed at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest over the weekend. When asked about it, he defended his fellow American Idol judge Katy Perry, who was booed for critiquing a contestant. Katy was booed in April on the show after Top 26 finalist Nutsa Buzaladze's performance of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals' "Paris (Ooh La La)," and Perry said it was too flashy.

Luke said, "When it comes down to our fans being too hard on Katy, listen, Katy Perry's been dealing with stuff like that her whole career. We all get it. I mean, we're judging kids that people at home fall in love with. So, we're not gonna always bat a thousand as judges. We're gonna send a kid through that may get controversial. I think we get set up as judges, we kind of fall on the sword a couple of times, to where people can get very vocal on socials and stuff."

He continued, "I think when me and Lionel and Katy sit down at the desk, in our hearts, we're doing the best that we can. Katy gets picked on for going out and trying to have fun on a TV show. You can't be so safe in the moment that you can never go for a joke or go for a fun moment."

Bryan added, "It may be my year next year, but we are conditioned for it. It makes me appreciate her even more just how big of a scale she's had to deal with that her whole career."

Luke also touched on how long he plans to stay on American Idol. He offered, "As long as the show is growing and popping and we feel like we're doing beautiful work on the show, and we felt like this year was what we had all worked together to get to. As long as the vibe feels upward and onward and we're getting emotionally moved, and we're telling the story of kids and the American spirit, it's going to be a tough show me and Lionel and Katy to walk away from."

Halftime 2024: Which Country Star(s) Should Perform

In 2003 Shania Twain played the Halftime show at the Super Bowl, and since then, country music has not been part of the Super Bowl halftime show. While many country stars, including Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan, have performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, the Halftime show has excluded country stars for the most part.

So here's a look at the country superstars that would be amazing at Halftime in the future.

10 - Jason Aldean

GettyImages-170206082.jpgRick Diamond/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 08: Musician Jason Aldean performs during the 2013 CMA Music Festival on June 8, 2013 at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)


9 - Luke Bryan

GettyImages-633576358.jpgFrazer Harrison/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 02: Singer songwriter Luke Bryan speaks onstage at the Super Bowl LI Pregame Show Press Conference on February 2, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)


8 - Blake Shelton

GettyImages-138322286.jpgChristopher Polk/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Blake Shelton exits after performing “America the Beautiful” during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Pregame Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)


7 - Kenny Chesney

GettyImages-116609674.jpgJohn Parra/NFLPhotoLibrary

Kenny Chesney during Super Bowl XLI - Club SI - Sports Illustrated Super Bowl XLI Party at The Fifth in Miami Beach, Florida, United States. (Photo by John Parra/NFLPhotoLibrary for Sports Illustrated)


6 - Carrie Underwood

GettyImages-96425365.jpgElsa/Getty Images

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 04: Singer Carrie Underwood speaks to members of the media during the Pregame Show and National Anthem Press Conference held at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 4, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)


5 - Keith Urban

GettyImages-470307010.jpgMike Windle/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 18: Musician Keith Urban performs onstage during ACM Presents: Superstar Duets at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 18, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for dcp)


4 - Luke Combs

GettyImages-1193929455.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 13: Country singer & songwriter Luke Combs performs to a sold out audience at Bridgestone Arena on December 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)


3 - Morgan Wallen

GettyImages-1007006496.jpgScott Dudelson/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 28: Country singer Morgan Wallen performs onstage at Dodger Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)


2 - Taylor Swift

GettyImages-956299498.jpgKevin Winter/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - MAY 08: Taylor Swift performs onstage during opening night of her 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour at University of Phoenix Stadium on May 8, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS)


1 - Garth Brooks

GettyImages-1137877148.jpgJohn Medina/Getty Images

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 23: Garth Brooks performs at State Farm Stadium on March 23, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by John Medina/Getty Images)

Halftime 2024: Which Country Star(s) Should Perform

In 2003 Shania Twain played the Halftime show at the Super Bowl, and since then, country music has not been part of the Super Bowl halftime show. While many country stars, including Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan, have performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, the Halftime show has excluded country stars for the most part.

So here's a look at the country superstars that would be amazing at Halftime in the future.

10 - Jason Aldean

GettyImages-170206082.jpgRick Diamond/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 08: Musician Jason Aldean performs during the 2013 CMA Music Festival on June 8, 2013 at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)


9 - Luke Bryan

GettyImages-633576358.jpgFrazer Harrison/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 02: Singer songwriter Luke Bryan speaks onstage at the Super Bowl LI Pregame Show Press Conference on February 2, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)


8 - Blake Shelton

GettyImages-138322286.jpgChristopher Polk/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Blake Shelton exits after performing “America the Beautiful” during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Pregame Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)


7 - Kenny Chesney

GettyImages-116609674.jpgJohn Parra/NFLPhotoLibrary

Kenny Chesney during Super Bowl XLI - Club SI - Sports Illustrated Super Bowl XLI Party at The Fifth in Miami Beach, Florida, United States. (Photo by John Parra/NFLPhotoLibrary for Sports Illustrated)


6 - Carrie Underwood

GettyImages-96425365.jpgElsa/Getty Images

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 04: Singer Carrie Underwood speaks to members of the media during the Pregame Show and National Anthem Press Conference held at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 4, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)


5 - Keith Urban

GettyImages-470307010.jpgMike Windle/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 18: Musician Keith Urban performs onstage during ACM Presents: Superstar Duets at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 18, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for dcp)


4 - Luke Combs

GettyImages-1193929455.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 13: Country singer & songwriter Luke Combs performs to a sold out audience at Bridgestone Arena on December 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)


3 - Morgan Wallen

GettyImages-1007006496.jpgScott Dudelson/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 28: Country singer Morgan Wallen performs onstage at Dodger Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)


2 - Taylor Swift

GettyImages-956299498.jpgKevin Winter/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - MAY 08: Taylor Swift performs onstage during opening night of her 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour at University of Phoenix Stadium on May 8, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS)


1 - Garth Brooks

GettyImages-1137877148.jpgJohn Medina/Getty Images

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 23: Garth Brooks performs at State Farm Stadium on March 23, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by John Medina/Getty Images)

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.