Kelly Clarkson To Perform on 'American Idol' Thursday Night

America's original idol Kelly Clarkson will return to the Fox stage this week, the Los Angeles Times reports. The 28-year-old season one winner will perform "Don't You Wanna Stay" with country crooner Jason Aldean on Thursday's live results show. The pair first collaborated on the song at the Country Music Awards in November, launching it to the top of Billboard's country music charts. They'll be joined by Barbadian beauty Rihanna, who will also entertain the audience and nervous Idol contestants with a performance.

Since winning the reality competition in 2002, Clarkson has not been a stranger to the show that made her a star; she appeared on last year's goodbye tribute to former judge Simon Cowell along with fellow Idol alums like Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino and Kris Allen. Clarkson is back on the performance circuit in preparation for the release of her fifth studio album in September. She recently appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, performing early hits like "Miss Independent" and "Since You've Been Gone." –EMILY EXTON