Luke Bryan got teased by Ryan Seacrest and Katy Perry on Sunday’s live episode of American Idol after the country star fell on stage while performing in Canada.
The 47-year-old judge opened the season 22 episode with a strong rendition of the 1985 song Small Town by John Mellencamp.
Show host Ryan Seacrest, 49, then introduced the judges as Luke, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie took their seats for the two-hour episode featuring performances by the Top 14.
‘So, hold on. Before we get going, I just want to check to make sure. Luke, you’re moving okay. You looked all right at the open of the show there. …Are you damaged in any way?,’ Ryan asked.
‘What are you talking about, Ryan?,’ Luke said.
Luke Bryan got teased by Ryan Seacrest on Sunday’s live episode of American Idol after the country star fell on stage while performing in Canada
‘So, hold on. Before we get going, I just want to check to make sure. Luke, you’re moving okay. You looked all right at the open of the show there. …Are you damaged in any way?,’ Ryan asked
‘Well, just a few hours ago, you had a concert, right?,’ Ryan said.
‘What are you talking about?’ Luke said laughing.
Ryan then showed the tape of Luke performing on Saturday night in Vancouver, Canada, and falling backward after slipping.
Luke pretended to be hobbled as he walked around.
‘I’m all right, baby,’ Luke said laughing to the audience.
Ryan asked if the fall was choreographed and Luke said that it wasn’t.
‘No choreograph there,’ Luke said. ‘Good old-fashioned foolishness.’
Ryan noted that it was a good lesson for the contestants that they didn’t need to be perfect.
‘It was actually the best moment of the night,’ Luke said smiling.
Katy Perry also poked fun of Luke slipping on stage as the Top 14 performed during the two-hour show on ABC
‘What are you talking about, Ryan?,’ Luke said after Ryan asked if he was okay
Ryan then showed the tape of Luke performing on Saturday night in Vancouver, Canada, and falling backward after slipping
‘It was actually the best moment of the night,’ Luke said smiling
Katy, 39, also made fun of Luke falling on stage after Nya, 28, of Manhattan, New York, performed the Aretha Franklin version of I Say A Little Prayer.
The pop superstar told Nya that it was her favorite performance yet by her.
‘Just try to make it look a little difficult, all right. I mean…,’ Luke quipped while complimenting Nya on her performance.
‘Why don’t you just fall or something?,’ Katy teased.
‘Be like me, make life harder for yourself,’ Luke said smiling. ‘No. It was so effortless and so smooth. Great job.’
Gene Simmons, 74, served as the special guest mentor for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame episode and after Nya’s performance he shouted to her, ‘You are a star!’
Nya, however, was eliminated along with Australian singer Jordan Anthony, 19, after he ambitiously performed “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston.
Ryan told the ABC audience that more than 19.9 million live votes had been cast before revealing the Top 12.
Katy, 39, also made fun of Luke falling on stage after Nya, 28, of Manhattan, New York, performed the Aretha Franklin version of I Say A Little Prayer
‘Just try to make it look a little difficult, all right. I mean…,’ Luke quipped while complimenting Nya on her performance
‘Why don’t you just fall or something?,’ Katy teased
Gene Simmons, 74, served as the special guest mentor for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame episode and after Nya’s performance he shouted to her, ‘You are a star!’
The episode opened with Triston Harper, 15, belting out Heartbreak Hotel complete with some dance moves that paid homage to Elvis Presley.
‘That was tremendous,’ Luke said after Triston’s performance.
Julia Gagnon, 22, of Maine, took on the Whitney Houston song Run To Me after Gene told her to demand respect while performing.
Ryan paused the show before a commercial break ‘to honor a dear member of the Idol family who we sadly lost this week. Mandisa.’
‘She was an inspiration during her time here on the show and beyond. We’re gonna celebrate her next week with a very special musical tribute. Our hearts go out to her family and all of those, like us, who call her a friend,’ Ryan said as a large image of Mandisa was shown behind him.
Roman Collins was up next and performed the Marvin Gaye song You’re All I Need to Get By.
The episode opened with Triston Harper, 15, belting out Heartbreak Hotel complete with some dance moves that paid homage to Elvis Presley
Julia Gagnon, 22, of Maine, took on the Whitney Houston song Run To Me after Gene told her to demand respect while performing
Ryan paused the show before a commercial break ‘to honor a dear member of the Idol family who we sadly lost this week. Mandisa’
‘She was an inspiration during her time here on the show and beyond. We’re gonna celebrate her next week with a very special musical tribute. Our hearts go out to her family and all of those, like us, who call her a friend,’ Ryan said as a large image of Mandisa was shown behind him
Roman Collins was up next and performed the Marvin Gaye song You’re All I Need to Get By
Kaibrienne rocked out to I Hate Myself For Loving You by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts.
Gene had encouraged her to find the physicality in the song and she heeded his advice during her performance.
‘I think Gene should take my spot,’ said Katy, who earlier this year revealed this would be her last season on American Idol.
Jayna Elise, 22, also took on a Whitney Houston song and performed I Have Nothing.
‘You are a star,’ Lionel, 74, told Jayna after her performance.
Mia Matthews, 19, from Centre, Alabama, sang Those Memories Of You while playing guitar.
Kayko also played guitar while performing High And Dry by Radiohead, which was his first cover song during the competition.
Gene shouted at Emmy Russell to get her ready for the competition before she sang the Bonnie Raitt song I Can’t Make You Love Me.
Kaibrienne rocked out to I Hate Myself For Loving You by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
Jayna Elise, 22, also took on a Whitney Houston song and performed I Have Nothing
‘You are a star,’ Lionel, 74, told Jayna after her performance
Jordan after his Whitney song was followed by McKenna Faith Breinholt who performed the Chicago song Hard To Say I’m Sorry.
Jack Blocker challenged himself by taking on the Bob Dylan song Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right and was followed by Nya.
Will Moseley, 23, of Hazlehurst, Georgia, after receiving some sage advice from Gene delivered an emotional rendition of the Bob Seger song Night Moves.
‘You picked the perfect song. It’s the perfect song for you,’ Lionel said after his performance.
Abi Carter, 21, of Indio, California, admitted she was nervous to meet Gene because she grew up in a religious family believing that rock and roll was the devil’s music.
Gene encouraged Abi to give in to the emotion while she rehearsed Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.
Abi Carter and Julia both had strong performances during the live episode
Katy and Kiss rocker Gene stuck their tongues out while posing together
She played piano while mesmerizing the audience with her powerful voice and vocal range.
Roman, Mia, Triston, Julia, Jack, Jayna, McKenna, Kaibrienne, Emmy, Abi and Will were announced as Top 12 finalists by Ryan.
Jordan, Kayko and Nya stayed on the stage with only one spot left before Ryan revealed that Kayko had advanced into the Top 12.
American Idol will return on Monday on ABC with Meghan Trainor serving as mentor for the Billboard #1 Hits episode.
