Thursday’s American Idol offered a quite a reunion. Season 3 winner Fantasia, season 2 runnerup Clay Aiken and former judge Paula Abdul appeared during the Top 5 Results live show.

Before Ryan Seacrest introduced Fantasia, he aired a clip that showed the season Fantasia won and was in the final 3 alongside Jennifer Hudson. Fantasia returned one year after performing on last year’s season 11 finale. She performed Lose to Win from her upcoming album, The Side Effects of You.

The singer got a standing ovation and appeared to be choking back tears at the end of the performance and caused one of the show’s judges Nicki Minaj to tear up.

Abdul expressed her excitement for the first time that the Top 5 finalists were all female.
“Congratulations to America for getting it right!” she told the audience.

Aiken spoke proudly about the success he achieved since he appeared on the hit singing competition show ten years ago.

“I never thought I’d do what I’m doing now and this show is the reason I’m able to do that,” Aiken said before he sang Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Rock group Falk Out Boy sat in the audience to take in all of the live action during the show. Lead singer Pete Wentz said the band was “super excited” to be there.

The Top four finalists on the show are Candice Glover, Kree Harrison, Angela Miller and Amber Holcomb.

American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on FOX at 8/7 c

Tags: American Idol 2013 American Idol Season 12