American Idol has produced a number of superstars in its 14 years - Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Jordin Sparks - but nobody is quite like the first. And during the show's farewell season, Kelly Clarkson is due to return to FOX as a guest judge and performer for the show's top 10 contestants.
Idol producers made the announcement of Clarkson's return at the Television Critics Association's winter press conference on Friday (Jan. 15) and later confirmed the news via Twitter. Her episode of Idol is set to air on Feb. 25.
JUST IN: @kelly_clarkson will return to #Idol as a guest judge and live performer on 2/25! pic.twitter.com/egxbYTQJDa
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) January 15, 2016
While a sure thing for the Top 10 episode of Idol, Clarkson could not be confirmed to attend the show's finale. Clarkson is pregnant with her second child with her husband Brandon Blackstock.
Of course, in Idol's final season. Clarkson isn't the only famous alumni set to attend. According to journalists at the TCA panel, other past winners and contestants will appear on the show to sing duets with this year's contestants during the "middle portion" of the live shows.
Other contestants, such as Kris Allen, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken have returned to Idol already this season to help filter out contestants during the show's tryouts.
The biggest question is whether or not Idol's original bad boy judge, Simon Cowell, will return during the show's 15th season. Producers could not confirm an appearance by Cowell, but they did note that the best bet of a Cowell cameo will be during the very last episode.
American Idol's 15th and final season is airing its auditions now. The next episode will air on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
