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American Idol’s first winner will storm the stage on Thursday’s results show, flanked by some hefty starpower: Rihanna and country crooner Jason Aldean.
There’s nothing like the original. Kelly Clarkson will be back in action next week where she made it all happen, right on the American Idol stage in Los Angeles.
(More on TIME.com: See photos of Idol’s past winners)
Nearly nine years after she took the winner’s crown, she’ll be showing off her first foray into country music, singing a duet with Jason Aldean. The pair put out the ballad “Don’t You Wanna Stay” in late 2010, and Clarkson’s transition to country music proved seamless as the song rocketed to the top of the Billboard Hot Country charts in March.
Rumor has it that Rihanna will also be carrying a tune on Thursday’s show. Surely the latest batch of Idols can only dream of such superstar success – or maybe the performances will be all the inspiration they need.
(More on TIME.com: See Kelly Clarkson’s win as an epic moment in reality-TV history)