Luke Bryan missed the first live performance this season on American Idol after being diagnosed with COVID-19, with Paula Abdul stepping in to fill his role as a judge.
And after the live episode took place on Monday, his fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie gave fans an update on the country star.
‘He was texting us. He was blowing up our phones during the whole episode. Some of it we can’t even say…’ Katy, 36, joked to Entertainment Tonight.
Candid: Luke Bryan missed the first live performance this season on American Idol after being diagnosed with COVID-19 , with Paula Abdul stepping in to fill his role as a judge. And after the live episode took place on Monday, his fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie gave fans an update on the country star; Katy on Monday’s episode of American Idol
Lionel, 71, added: ‘We can’t say half of it!’
Katy continued: ‘But he agreed with everything. He was just giving critiques at home. I guess, alone in his room.’
She continued: ‘He’s totally good. I think he’s gonna be alright. I think we’ll be seeing him next week.’
Lionel and Katy both gushed about Paula, who previously served as a judge from 2002 until 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2016.
Feel better! ‘He was texting us. He was blowing up our phones during the whole episode. Some of it we can’t even say…’ Katy, 36, joked to Entertainment Tonight; Luke pictured previously
‘Paula did a great job! She did a great job!’ Lionel said.
Bryan revealed his health condition on social media Monday.
‘I’m sad to say I won’t be a part of tonight’s first live @americanidol show. I tested positive for Covid but I’m doing well and look forward to being back at it soon.’
The crooner will likely spend at least two weeks in quarantine, shared TMZ.
When it was reported on Monday, it was not known how long Bryan will be off the show, which has not gone live in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Teamwork: Lionel and Katy both gushed about Paula, who previously served as a judge from 2002 until 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2016
Sad times: Bryan revealed his health condition on social media on Monday. ‘I’m sad to say I won’t be a part of tonight’s first live @americanidol show. I tested positive for Covid but I’m doing well and look forward to being back at it soon’
Judges: When it was reported on Monday, it was not known how long Bryan will be off the show, which has not gone live in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic; Seen in February
The timing is difficult for Luke – who joined AI on season 16 – as he was supposed to be on Monday night’s show of American Idol.
He also has been busy promoting the music video to his single Waves which stars Vogue model and up-and-coming actor Travis Riker.
There will be plenty of precautions taken on the set of the live show of Idol.
Audience members will be masked, tested and seated in pods with their immediate households, American Idol showrunner Trish Kinane told Deadline in March.
Blast from the past: Former Idol judge Paula Abdul, who launched the series with Simon Cowell in 2002, stepped in for Bryan. Also seen here is Randy Jackson, far left, in 2005
Covid-19 guidelines will be followed on the entire set.
And the producers have been given guidance from the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
It has been a difficult year for Luke.
In March Bryan needed medical treatment after getting a fish hook stuck in his thumb.
The 44-year-old singer was enjoying a relaxing day on the water when he accidentally got the lure embedded deep in his digit, but remained cheerful throughout his painful ordeal, which he detailed in a series of videos on Instagram.
Luke shared a close-up of the two prongs of the hook along with the caption: ‘Dammit.’
And as he zoomed in on his hand, he said in a video clip: ‘Well, this is gonna leave a mark. Pretty sure that’s in my bone.’
They have been socially distanced: The three stars, seen in February, were six feet apart on the hit show
His wife, Caroline, commented: ”I leave your a** for 2 hours and this happens….damn baby.’
The singer and his wife Caroline Boyer in 2016 in Las Vegas
The One Margarita singer then documented his visit to a medical center to have the hook removed.
Speaking in a car with his friend Russ driving, Luke joked he had ‘ruined’ their day out, but vowed not to let his injury stop them getting back to fishing.
He quipped: ‘Well, I invited Russ, my guitar tech, on a fishing trip, and leave it to me… I ruined the fishing trip.
‘But we’ll be back on the water in about 25 minutes.’
The judge’s next video showed him having his hand tended to by a medical worker as he wondered if he had ‘violated’ any rules by filming the procedure.
Hot clip: The music video for his song Waves was released this week; the star is Travis Riker, right
There he is: Bryan also stars in the new video as he sings from the beach
The staff member said: ‘It’s violating something… Turn that thing off.’
Luke told his followers he had ”violated HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) somehow.’
And sure enough, a few hours later, Luke and Russ were back on their boat.
The country crooner – who has sons Bo, 13, and Tate, 10, with his wife – said in a video out on the water posted on his Instagram story: ”Got the hook out! We’re back!’
Luke’s fishing injury came just two weeks after he fell while out skiing with his family.
He shared a video of himself and one of his sons on the slopes and wrote on Instagram: ‘Me and tot. Then I wiped out.’