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'American Idol' Finale Duets You Probably Forgot About

Jill O'Rourke Jill O'Rourke
Jill O'Rourke

Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit


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| November 23, 2022 Adam Lambert on stage with Kiss on 'American Idol'Theresa Knudson via Pinterest

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One of our favorite things about American Idol finale episodes throughout the years has been the tradition of duets between celebrity guest performers and contestants. With 20 seasons of the long-running talent show to remember, you might have forgotten a few of them. Let’s take a look at some of the best examples over the years.

‘American Idol’ Finale Duets You Probably Forgot About

1. Katy Perry and Catie Turner

In Season 16, judge Katy Perry told contestant Catie Turner that she would love to sing with her one day. That wish came true in the finale episode, as the pair took the stage for a stripped-down version of Perry’s song “Part of Me.” The pair even held hands during the sweet performance.

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2. Adam Lambert and Dimitrius Graham

In Season 17, former American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert took the stage with contestant Dimitrius Graham for a dramatic duet to “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. The pair really put on a show, and the crowd went wild for their performance. They finished the duet with a hug.

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3. Luke Bryan and Gabby Barrett

Before she took third place in Season 16 and became a successful country star, Gabby Barrett took the stage during the season finale to sing with judge Luke Bryan. The pair performed Bryan’s song “Most People Are Good.” Afterward, Bryan said he had been “looking forward to this moment.”

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4. Carrie Underwood and Lauren Alaina

Season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina delivered a special performance in the season finale when she teamed up with former winner Carrie Underwood to sing the star’s iconic song “Before He Cheats.” The ladies brought plenty of sass to the powerhouse performance.

SEE ALSO: ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ DUETS YOU PROBABLY FORGOT ABOUT

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5. Steven Tyler and Jax

In Season 14, contestant Jax took the stage with former American Idol judge Steven Tyler of Aerosmith for a rocking performance of “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin. Jax was totally comfortable on stage with the rocker as she screamed the lyrics. At one point, they even lay on the judges’ table while they performed.

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6. Jennifer Holliday and Jessica Sanchez

Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez was part of a very special performance in the season finale when she teamed up with Jennifer Holliday to sing the Dreamgirls classic “Am I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” The pair belted out the iconic song, which Holliday originated on Broadway.

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7. Kiss and Adam Lambert

Before he was a celebrity guest performer, Adam Lambert was a contestant on Season 8 of the show. For the season finale, he teamed up with the rock band Kiss for a fiery medley of their songs, including “Beth,” “Detroit Rock City,” and “Rock and Roll All Nite.”

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8. Tim McGraw and Scotty McCreery

Season 10 champion Scotty McCreery took the stage before his big win to perform “Live Like You Were Dying” with country star Tim McGraw during the season finale. The singers were backed by violinists during the heartfelt performance.

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Update: 2024-08-19