WATCH: Kelly Clarkson’s performance brings ‘American Idol’ judges to tears

MANILA, Philippines – Kelly Clarkson returned to the American Idol stage on Thursday, February 25, with an emotional performance that brought tears to the judges’ eyes.

Kelly sang “Piece by Piece,” a song she wrote about her father leaving when she was younger.

Kelly herself choked up towards the end of the song, as she sang, “Because unlike you I’m going to put her first / And you know, he’ll never walk away.”

Throughout the song, the American Idol judges Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban were tearing up too.

The crowd cheered her on, though, and Kelly pushed to end the song despite a few more emotional starts and stops.

“It’s just a touching song for me, because I wrote it about my little girl when I was pregnant, and now I’m pregnant with my little boy,” she explained after the performance.

Kelly, the first to win the American Idol competition in 2002, added that she was also feeling very nostalgic. This 15th season of American Idol is the last.

In a video released on February 26 on American Idol‘s YouTube channel, Keith Urban, who was the most emotional among the 3, said that it was his favorite Idol moment. “It just obliterated everything before it, that was absolutely spellbinding tonight,” he said.

What did you think of Kelly’s American Idol performance of “Piece by Piece?” Let us know in the comments! – Rappler.com