Luke Bryan and his American Idol judging panel cohorts Katy Perry and Lionel Richie spend a lot of time analyzing singers' auditions. So when AI host Ryan Seacrest took the opportunity (while working at his other gig, Live with Kelly and Ryan) to ask the judges which song they would personally audition for the show with, it was a pretty interesting exercise.

All three judges looked visibly lost in thought when presented with the question. "The one your mama says you sing the best, right?" Bryan pitched in, to which Richie agreed.

"I would have done a Brooks & Dunn song probably," Bryan finally settled on. "Because I used to think I could sing like Brooks & Dunn." He added that the question puts him into his personal "18-year-old mode," because so many of the contestants trying out for the show are so young.

As for Perry? She chose "Blackbird" by the Beatles, adding that she is still feeling proud of last season's winner Maddie Poppe, saying she sees so much of herself in the young singer. Richie said, "I'm thinking somewhere between Sam Cooke and Paul McCartney." adding that he likes a "silky" vibe.

For those who are champing at the bit for Season 17, there's not much longer to wait. The fun kicks off Sunday (March 3) on ABC with all three of the judges—and Seacrest too!— raring to go. Tune in!

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