The newest season ofAmerican Idolhas no shortage of drama.
Tearjerker auditions, heated exchanges between judges and contestants and apossible gas leakaccompany the powerful performances.
Through it all, judgesLuke Bryan,Katy PerryandLionel Richiehave an undeniable chemistry.
Bryan, 43, recently opened up to PEOPLE aboutKaty Perry’s secret talent, the contestant he thinks could win it all and why he’s enjoying the show “now more than ever.”
PEOPLE:Now that you’re in your third year of judgingAmerican Idol, do you feel like you, Katy and Lionel have found your spot on the panel, and have a good rhythm going?
BRYAN:Totally. We all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we know how to have fun with one another. We’re all artists, and we have a good idea of how to treat these kids when we say “Yes” and send them to Hollywood, and when we say “No.” I think that here, in Year 3, our identities as judges are at another level.
PEOPLE:And Ryan Seacrest is a delight, of course.
Luke Bryan/Instagram
PEOPLE:Are there any contestants you felt really drawn to during the auditions and early stages? Is there anyone we should really keep an eye out for this year?
BRYAN:Well, from the ones that you’ve seen … I’ve been pretty vocal about Francisco [Martin]. Francisco, just from the second he walked in, he was so nervous. He was literally freaking out on camera. And, you know, I jumped up out of my seat and calmed him down. But what I don’t know is that this kid is about to blow my mind with his performance. I’m just trying to keep him from fainting. So we get out there, loosen him up and then he delivers this amazing audition.
That’s what’s cool aboutIdol. We don’t want these kids to come in and be so nervous that they blow their audition. This kid was so nervous that he was about to have a bad audition. We probably would’ve sent him away. But now I think he might win the thing. Francisco is my frontrunner but hey, as America starts voting and the rounds get going, you never know what’s going to happen.
American Idolairs Sundays on ABC.
source: people.com
