Katy Perry Tries & Fails to Convince Sara Beth Liebe To Stay On 'American Idol'

Sara Beth Liebe has walked away from American Idol.

The 25-year-old hopeful contestant shared her decision on the program over the weekend, although Katy Perry tried to convince her to stay on.

Keep reading to find out more…

Sara Beth, who made headlines just a few weeks before about Katy’s ill-received joke, first opened up about feeling that she wasn’t cut out for the show and wanted to be home with her children more.

She shared her thoughts with guest coach Clay Aiken, who she worked with on her next audition song before performing it for Katy and fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

“I’ve been a mom since I was 18. I’ve been married since I was 18 and I don’t feel like I fit the mold,” she shared then. “So I’m trying to figure this all out, I don’t know.”

Sara Beth then confessed to the cameras that she hadn’t realized “quite how hard it would be” to be away from her kids, and that she felt mom-guilt over doing “something completely selfish.”

Following her performance for the judges, who were wowed by it, she then revealed she’d be leaving.

“This opportunity is really rad but this is actually gonna be my last performance ’cause my heart’s at home,” she told them, who were all in disbelief. “So I’m gonna get home to my babies, they kind of need me. So thank you, thanks.”

Katy did try to convince her to stay and do something for her: “Sara Beth, I know life is scary. I also know that it’s easier to walk away than to be rejected. But then I also know that you lose out on your fullest potential and I know that you love your family for your kids. I know that as a mother. But remember, self-love is just as big as motherly love. Don’t leave the competition.”

She tried one more time to get her to stay, saying to Sara Beth that she “opened a door you never thought you would open, and you got a yes. And you may get another yes in the future. Do not give up.”

Sara Beth was keeping to her decision though to leave the show.

“I’m really humbled and grateful and Katy had some really nice things to say. It’d be nice if my kids were a little older,” she shared. “I understand how big of an opportunity this is, I still kind of want to go home. I’m sure that when I get home I’ll regret it. I’ll probably go damn Sara you should’ve stayed and you should’ve done it.”

Following the episode, Sara Beth shared a TikTok on her experience. Watch it below: