American Idol winner Noah Thompson thought Katy Perry and John Mayer were married — they were not
American Idol 2022 winner Noah Thompson recently shared a hilarious onstage memory from his time on the show that left fans laughing — and correcting him. In a segment where the judges each picked songs for contestants, Noah confidently guessed the wrong judge and later admitted he mistakenly believed Katy Perry and John Mayer had been married.
The episode’s Top 11 week used a “Judges Song Contest” format: each judge — Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan — selected a song for every contestant. Producers presented the three song options to the singers without revealing who chose which tune. After the performances, the panelist who had the most picks was declared the winner of that round.
When host Ryan Seacrest asked each contestant to guess which judge had selected their song, Noah sang John Mayer’s “Heartbreak Warfare” and confidently credited Katy Perry for the pick. That’s when the awkward comedy unfolded: Katy, who had dated John Mayer previously, looked incredulous and suggested Noah check her background — a response that made the moment memorable for viewers and viewers in the theater alike.
Noah: “I feel like maybe you should Wikipedia me…”
Noah told the story directly on social media, opening with: “I’mma tell y’all a little bit about the time I embarrassed the s— out of Katy Perry. It’s kinda bad, but it’s funny as hell too.” He recalled sitting next to fellow contestant Nicolina and telling her he thought Katy had chosen the song. Nicolina’s reaction was blunt: “Are you stupid?” Noah said she gave him a look that signaled he’d missed something obvious.
Onstage, after Noah guessed Katy had picked the song, she quipped, “Noah, I feel like maybe you should Wikipedia me.” She added that the song was a great pick but then left it at that, playfully exiting her seat. The reveal followed: Luke Bryan stood and admitted he was the one who chose the song, leaving Noah apologizing and still a little confused.
“I didn’t realize they were freaking married,” Noah said
In his recounting Noah admitted he hadn’t looked up Katy’s history and said, “I didn’t realize they were freaking married bro, I was like s—.” Fans quickly corrected him online: Katy Perry and John Mayer dated on and off but were never married to one another. The two had a public relationship that drew media attention, but Katy’s only marriage to date was to actor and comedian Russell Brand, which lasted from 2010 to 2012. The singer later entered a relationship with actor Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares a daughter, Daisy Dove.
Katy’s long public biography can be dense, and Noah’s on-air moment made clear how easy it can be to miss specifics of celebrity timelines if you don’t look them up. Fans in the comment sections were quick to point out the difference between dating and marriage, and many found the moment charmingly awkward rather than cruel. One viewer called the segment “pure gold,” while others reminded Noah that Katy and Mayer had a difficult breakup but were not married to each other.
Noah teases new music while living in Nashville
Away from reality TV stories, Noah Thompson has been building his career as a country artist. He lives in Nashville, plays live dates, and released his debut EP, Middle of God Knows Where. Since winning American Idol, he’s steadily toured and shared new material with fans on social platforms.
Earlier this month Noah posted a short clip of an unreleased song and asked followers whether he should put it out. He captioned the teaser, “Now it’s a ‘Road that I can’t go down’, should I drop this or nah?? Lemme know whatcha think #newmusiccoming #staytuned.” The snippet featured upbeat, heartfelt lyrics about recognizing cycles in a relationship: “You could tell me that it’s all good, tell me lies that we could really get it right with another round, I know the way this thing is gonna go, been there and your love took a toll and now it’s a road that I can’t go down…”
Noah’s candid anecdotes, combined with his steady release schedule, keep fans engaged. Whether he’s sharing an embarrassing TV memory or previewing a new song, his posts generate conversation and remind audiences that even pop-culture moments can turn into musical inspiration. As Noah continues to grow his catalog and perform around the country, followers can expect more behind-the-scenes stories and music teasers from the Nashville-based singer.