Just one minute into Kelly’s performance, Keith begins to break apart. After another two minutes, tears began to fall down his cheeks—and he wasn’t alone:
Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol winner, is noted for bringing a degree of intensity and a real passion to a song that few vocalists can equal. She carried that great skill to her 2016 performance of Piece by Piece to wrap up the 15th season of American Idol. Keith Urban couldn’t help but cry that night because her presence on stage was so powerful.

Kelly made her debut years ago as the champion of American Idol’s singing competition. She returned for what many assumed was the show’s final season (ABC resurrected the show in 2017) to take center stage and perform one of her songs. She had everyone’s attention from the moment she stepped onto the stage, even though she was pregnant.

She collaborated on the song with Greg Kurstin. It was clear that the song was very personal to Kelly and full of real feelings, not just based on what she had done.

Just minutes into her performance, Kelly did something that surprised both the judges and the crowd. She was so moved by the song’s words that she had to fight back tears as she sang them.

She struggled to keep going with the song for a short time, showing a level of passion that is rarely seen by music superstars like Kelly Clarkson on stage.

Kelly is recognized not only for her great skill but also for the extraordinary and near-immediate relationship she develops with audiences that hear her sing live. Her followers are moved by the intensity and emotion she brings to every performance.

When she had to stop because she grew overwhelmed during her performance, the crowd jumped to their feet to cheer her on.
To urge her to continue singing, the audience began to shout, «Kelly! Kelly! Kelly!» She ended the song with a rousing ovation from the audience and a heartfelt thank you from Keith Urban and the other judges.

Isn’t it amazing to witness a performer or artist and know they’re doing precisely what they’re supposed to do? Have you ever been so affected by an artist’s performance that you cried? Send us your story on how a performance or a particular musician touched you and we’ll pass it on.