Katy Perry Brings Fellow Idol Judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on a Hometown Trip to Santa Barbara (Exclusive)

Katy Perry is showing Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie her California roots!

Ahead of Sunday's American Idol premiere, judges Perry, Bryan and Richie took trips to each of their hometowns and gave each other a special tour.

PEOPLE caught up with the "Teenage Dream" superstar after her trip to Santa Barbara, California, and — despite their vastly different backgrounds — she says Bryan and Richie fit right in.

"The best part of bringing Idol to Santa Barbara was being able to share my roots," Perry, 39, tells PEOPLE over email. "From busking at farmers markets for avocados and mangos on the guitar our family friend Patricia Bragg gifted me, to seeing my opera teacher — the sweetest surprise — when we did auditions at Music Academy of the West."

She also loved showing Bryan, 47, and Richie, 74, "how those times made me the person I am today."

For Perry, spending time at home means leaving the "hustle and bustle" of Los Angeles behind and turning into a "bike-riding, grocery-shopping, family-Sunday-brunching Katy."

During their trip, the "Last Friday Night" singer set up a pickleball match — and Perry's mom Mary joined her team.

"Mom and I won, of course," she says. "It’s so funny because my mom’s been trying to get the family to play pickleball with her for years, and we always resisted, but we gave in a few years ago, and now it’s our Sunday afternoon family activity. I even did a charity pickleball tournament — which Mom competed in, of course — for my foundation, Firework Foundation."

Perry's parents have built a relationship with her fellow Idol judges over the years — so naturally she "loves them," she says, adding that they fit right in: "Luke drank his first green juice here, so he’s starting to get the hang of it!"

As the "California Gurls" performer heads into season 22 of Idol, her seventh round on the series, she's feeling "great."

"This season’s talent is better than ever. Some of the cuts we’ve had to make would easily have made it through other seasons," Perry says.

During a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the "Roar" singer announced her exit from the show as she teased she has more projects, including new music, to come later in 2024.

“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol,” Perry confirmed. “I mean, I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat — you what I’m saying, Jimmy?” she added, winking at host Jimmy Kimmel.

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In November, Perry wrapped her Play residency in Las Vegas and gave her daughter Daisy Dove, whom she welcomed in August 2020 with fiancé Orlando Bloom, a sweet shoutout onstage. Since then, the singer-songwriter says it's been special "to be present with her in everyday life moments."

"I’m so grateful my residency allowed me to be with her in the mornings to pack her school lunch before going to work, but also to have her come and see mommy go sing," she says.

As for her relationship with Bloom, Perry says the secret to a long-lasting relationship with busy schedules is "a really well-updated shared calendar."

"So we can make time for everything that’s important in both our lives," she adds.

Season 22 of American Idol premieres Sunday Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. PT/ET on ABC.