Ryan Seacrest is as surprised as the rest of us by the news that Paula Abdul is leaving American Idol.

“The news stunned me last night,” he said Wednesday on his KISS FM radio show. “I was shocked.”
Seacrest said he found out by reading reports Tuesday night after Abdul tweeted, “With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to Idol.”

“She’s a dear friend. I love her to death and am really sad that it came to fruition,” Seacrest said. “I’m just bummed because we’ve worked together for so many years. It’s sad.”
Seacrest also addressed theories that Abdul’s announcement was a way of drumming up publicity. “Everyone that I’ve passed today here has asked is it true? Is it a publicity stunt?,” he said on the air. “As far as I know, it’s real. At this point she’s decided to leave.”

Could there be a reversal, his co-host asked? “I would love that. I think that would be fantastic for all of us. That would be great,” he said.

Still Seacrest — who got a raise for his hosting gig in July, bumping him up to $45 million for three years — acknowledged Abdul’s contract negotiations. “Obviously she has her reasons for doing it and if she didn’t feel like she was getting what she needed,” he said, “I understand that too.”

Seacrest will fly to Denver Thursday night with the three remaining judges — Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi — for season 9 auditions, he said, before taking a call from a listener.
“If she were listening right now, what would you say to her?” Seacrest asked the caller.
“Paula, please go back to Idol,” she said. “It would mean the world to me.”
“I think I’d say the same thing,” Seacrest replied.