TheAmerican Idolemotional roller coaster is in full force for not only the contestants, but for judgesKaty Perry,Luke BryanandLionel Richie.
During Monday’s first live episode, seven contestants were moved from the Top 14 to the Top 10 — leaving three contestants eligible for a save from the judges.
“It’s tough because we’re so invested,” Perry, 34, told PEOPLE after the show. “It’s so difficult to play chess with people’s dreams. I do wish we could have American Idols, the show, but I think that America did a fantastic job at voting for this first live show.”
“We asked them to fight and then they go out there to fight,” Bryan, 42, added. “You see these kids and it inspires me to sit at home at my piano.”
TheAmerican IdolTop Ten.ABC/Disney

There hasn’t been a shortage of tears since day one.
During Sunday’s episode,Jeremiah Lloyd Harmonperformed a rendition ofElton John‘s 1975 hit “We All Fall in Love Sometimes” and Perry was immediately taken a back.
“Me and my family are in a better place and things are looking up,” Harmon said in an update on his relationship afterrevealing two weeks agothat “my parents still have not been able to accept me being gay.”
After his emotional performance, Perry was seen wiping the tears from her eyes before giving Harmon some words of encouragement.
“I’m a mess a little bit. I’m just so proud,” she said.
“I’m just so glad because you’re such a gift. You’re a light to the world. Your story is everything, and your talent, it just supersedes all, and just, I mean, I’m so proud of you,” the 13-time Grammy nominee added.
Ahead of last season’s premiere,Perry told PEOPLEthe judging styles moving forward were going to be much different than what has been done in the past.
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And since the premiere, the judges have stuck with that method.
“This is theAmerican Idolafter Simon Cowell had a kid because there’s no way in the world you would be able to go tell your daughter or son, you know what you suck,” Richie said after Monday night’s episode.
source: people.com