Luke Bryan has COVID-19: The country singer if forced to skip American Idol’s first live show

Luke Bryan has been diagnosed with COVID-19 this month causing him to take a step back from work.

That means the country singer, whose single Waves was recently released, will be missing the first live performance this season of his show American Idol for which he serves as judge alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

Former Idol judge Paula Abdul, who launched the series with Simon Cowell in 2002, will step in for Bryan.

Time out: Luke Bryan has been diagnosed with COVID-19 this month causing him to take a step back from work

Bryan has said that he is doing fine as he recovers at home.

Bryan revealed his health condition on social media. ‘I’m sad to say I won’t be a part of tonight’s first live @americanidol show. I tested positive for Covid but I’m doing well and look forward to being back at it soon.’

The crooner will likely spend at least two weeks in quarantine, shared TMZ.

Deadline added that it is not known how long Bryan will be off the show, which has not gone live in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Only two left: That means the country singer, whose single Waves was recently released, will be missing the first live performance this season of his show American Idol for which he serves as judge alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Seen in February

Only two left: That means the country singer, whose single Waves was recently released, will be missing the first live performance this season of his show American Idol for which he serves as judge alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Seen in February

The timing is difficult for Luke – who joined AI on season 16 – was he was supposed to be on Monday night’s show of AI.

He also has been busy promoting the music video to his single Waves with stars Vogue model and up-and-coming actor Travis Riker. 

There will be plenty of precautions taken on the set of the live show of Idol. 

Audience members will be masked, tested and seated in pods with their immediate households, American Idol showrunner Trish Kinane told Deadline in March.  

Blast from the past: Former Idol judge Paula Abdul, who launched the series with Simon Cowell in 2002, will step in for Bryan. Also seen here is Randy Jackson, far left, in 2005

Blast from the past: Former Idol judge Paula Abdul, who launched the series with Simon Cowell in 2002, will step in for Bryan. Also seen here is Randy Jackson, far left, in 2005

Covid-19 guidelines will be followed on the entire set.

And the producers have been given guidance from the L.A. County Department of Public Health. 

In March Bryan needed medical treatment after getting a fish hook stuck in his thumb.

The 44-year-old singer was enjoying a relaxing day on the water when he accidentally got the lure embedded deep in his digit, but remained cheerful throughout his painful ordeal, which he detailed in a series of videos on Instagram.

Luke shared a close-up of the two prongs of the hook along with the caption: ‘Dammit.’

And as he zoomed in on his hand, he said in a video clip: ‘Well, this is gonna leave a mark. Pretty sure that’s in my bone.’

Back soon? Deadline added that it is not known how long Bryan will be off the show, which has not gone live in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Seen in May 2020

Back soon? Deadline added that it is not known how long Bryan will be off the show, which has not gone live in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Seen in May 2020

They have been socially distanced: The three stars, seen in February, were six feet apart on the hit show

They have been socially distanced: The three stars, seen in February, were six feet apart on the hit show

His wife, Caroline, commented: ”I leave your a** for 2 hours and this happens….damn baby.’

The One Margarita singer then documented his visit to a medical center to have the hook removed.

Speaking in a car with his friend Russ driving, Luke joked he had ‘ruined’ their day out, but vowed not to let his injury stop them getting back to fishing.

The singer and his wife Caroline Boyer in 2016 in Las Vegas

The singer and his wife Caroline Boyer in 2016 in Las Vegas

He quipped: ‘Well, I invited Russ, my guitar tech, on a fishing trip, and leave it to me… I ruined the fishing trip.

‘But we’ll be back on the water in about 25 minutes.’

The judge’s next video showed him having his hand tended to by a medical worker as he wondered if he had ‘violated’ any rules by filming the procedure.

The staff member said: ‘It’s violating something… Turn that thing off.’

Luke told his followers he had ”violated HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) somehow.’

And sure enough, a few hours later, Luke and Russ were back on their boat.

The country crooner – who has sons Bo, 13, and Tate, 10, with his wife – said in a video out on the water posted on his Instagram story: ”Got the hook out! We’re back!’

Luke’s fishing injury came just two weeks after he fell while out skiing with his family.

He shared a video of himself and one of his sons on the slopes and wrote on Instagram: ‘Me and tot. Then I wiped out.’