Anyone in the mood for a potent mix of emotion and nostalgia need look no further than Kelly Clarkson’s powerful performance on Thursday’s episode of “American Idol.”
Clarkson, who won the very first season of the Fox singing competition series, returned to the stage to sing an original song called “Piece by Piece.”
By the end of her performance nobody, not even Clarkson herself, had a dry eye in the audience. Judges Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban were both shown to be completely misty-eyed once the song ended.
Ryan Seacrest joined Clarkson onstage after the song to talk about the impact she clearly had on everyone. “I’m pregnant and it’s nostalgic and I can’t believe it’s the last season,” Clarkson said. She also said she was proud that she made it as far as she did through the song without crying herself.
She went on to explain that the song is about her son, which became all the more meaningful as she is now pregnant with her daughter.
Clarkson became the first ever “American Idol” winner back when the show premiered in 2002. She beat out thousands of other competitors, eventually going head to head with Justin Guarini for the final prize.