American Idol: Katy Perry cries during Fritz Hager performance as field narrows to Top 20

Katy Perry cried over the performance of Fritz Hager on Sunday’s episode of American Idol on ABC in which the field was narrowed down to the Top 20.  

The 37-year-old pop superstar and her fellow judges Lionel Richie, 72, and Luke Bryan, 45, also wiped away tears as the 22-year-old singer from Tyler, Texas delivered an emotional performance of the Billie Eilish ballad When The Party’s Over.

All three judges gave Fritz a standing ovation after he touched them with his falsetto voice.

‘Incredible,’ said Luke, who voted against Fritz during his audition in Austin, Texas.

Lionel then offered the first extended critique.

‘Now, Fritz, we’ve known each other a long time, right? And I know when I first met you, the last thing I ever thought about was crying. I am crying on Fritz!,’ Lionel said.

‘That was a stellar performance from you. It was one of the most touching performances I’ve ever seen from you. Continue that,’ the singing legend told him.

‘Vote, America. Vote,’ Lionel added.

Katy’s voice cracked as she reviewed his performance.

‘This show is not just a competition. This is an opportunity for people to be like reborn, and I see that in you, and I don’t think you’ll ever be misunderstood again,’ said Katy as her voice trembled with emotion.

‘I think you see yourself, we see you, and the world sees you now, Fritz,’ Katy added as Luke looked on with watery eyes.

‘Damn you, American Idol,’ Luke joked as Lionel offered him a tissue to dry his eyes.

‘That falsetto moment, it could’ve been recorded for an album and sent out there for the world. It was just really perfectly done,’ Luke told him.

Fritz recently quit his job as a security guard in Tyler to pursue his music career with the blessing of his formerly reluctant parents.

‘Now instead of my parents holding me back, they’re pushing me forward,’ Fritz said before his performance.

Fritz also was overjoyed to watch his idol Phillip Phillips, 31, who won season 11 of American Idol, perform his new song Love Like That.

Show host Ryan Seacrest, 47, revealed that Fritz made the top 20 right after Phillip performed.

‘With Phillip up here, and then me actually being here, it’s a dream come true,’ Fritz told Ryan after his performance as he thanked his supporters.

The season 20 episode saw the elimination of three singers as the Top 20 were revealed.

The Top 20 were announced in two groups with Scarlett Ayliz and Danielle Finn being eliminated from the first group.

Sir Blayke was the only one eliminated from the second group following the surprise departure announced last week of show frontrunner Kenedi Anderson, 17.

Voting opened after the Top 20 performed during the three-hour episode and results will be announced on Monday when the field gets culled to the final 14 singers.

The episode also featured performances by season 19 winner Chayce Beckham, 25, who song his new song Doin’ It Right and season 17 runner-up Alejandro Aranda, 27, The Darkness from his album released last August.

Emyrson Flora, 16, of Cleveland, got the show started with a version of Tell Me You Love Me by Demi Lovato.

Lionel praised the teenager for her stage presence.

‘You had a strut and a walk that was great tonight. Congratulations,’ he told her.

Mike Parker, 27, of Warrentown, Virginia, sang Chasing After You by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris.

Tristen Gressett, 17, of Pell City, Alabama, took on Sacrifice by The Weeknd.

Sage McNeely, 20, a nanny from Burbank, California, performed Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac.

Platinum ticket winner Jay Copeland, 23, of Salisbury, Maryland, showed his range by taking on You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse.

Katy praised the way Jay crafted his performance for a big finish.

‘You built that house one piece at a time and then it was a complete finished picture. It was such a journey. In the past it’s been like boom, boom, boom, and this was just a ride, and I was along for the ride. You gave us all the sauce we wanted,’ she said.

Nicolina Bozzo, 18, of Toronto, performed Edge Of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks.

Returning contestant Jacob Moran, 28, of Dansville, Michigan, belted out Don’t Worry ‘Bout A Thing by Stevie Wonder.

Hunter Wolkonowski, known professionally as Huntergirl, warmed hearts with her backstory of being a musical therapist for veterans.

The 23-year-old singer from Winchester, Tennessee, performed her original song Heartbreak Down.

The judges loved the risky move and Lionel admitted he was singing along.

‘First of all, what you do for veterans is profound. Second of all, that was an original song. This is when you pull out those tricks because you are an artist. I put my money on you, girl,’ Katy told her.

Elli Rowe, 19, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, sang Somewhere Only We Knew by Keane.

Dan Marshall, 24, of Chesapeake, Virginia, was the final singer in the first group to make the top 20.

He treated the crowd to a fun rendition of Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks.

The second group featured Ava Maybee, 20, of Los Angeles who sang Anyone by Demi Lovato.

Allegra Miles, 19, of West Palm Beach, Florida, performed a unique rendition of Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty.

Noah Thompson, 19, of Louisa, Kentucky, sang the Harry Styles song Falling.

Leah Marlene, 20, of Normal, Illinois, unleashed her voice while singing Heal by Tom Odell.

Christian Guardino, 21, of Long Island, delivered a moving rendition of Imagine by John Lennon.

Katyrah Love, 23, of Baltimore, showed her strong voice while singing Dream by Bishop Briggs.

Cameron Whitcomb, 18, sang Changes by Black Sabbath.

Cadence Baker, 18, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, took on Train Wreck by James Arthur.

Lady K after being named as the last member of the Top 20 performed Love On The Brain by Rihanna.

Katy said Lady K had ‘access to the treasure chest’ and Luke said he was impressed with her restrained delivery.

‘You have shown us all what faith is, what compassion is, what spirit is. Thank you so much for the lessons, Lady K,’ Lionel told her.

American Idol will return on Monday on ABC when the final 14 will be announced.