Watch Kelly Clarkson’s Emotional ‘Piece by Piece’ Performance on ‘American Idol’

Kelly Clarkson almost made it through her song ‘Piece by Piece’ while performing on American Idol on Thursday, February 25, 2016 without being overcome by emotion, but as she neared the song’s end she was forced to stop and collect herself. The first winner of Fox’s American Idol wrote the song about her father who walked out of her life when she was just a child. ‘Piece by Piece’ was written while Clarkson was pregnant with her daughter River Rose and recalls how she felt abandoned growing up. It’s a powerful song and Clarkson had the judging panel and audience crying along with her during the emotional, heart-wrenching performance.

After finishing the performance, Clarkson apologized for crying. Clarkson said it was partly due to the fact she’s pregnant with her second child (a son) and she’s nostalgic because this is the last season of American Idol. No apologies were necessary as she delivered one of the most memorable performances in American Idol‘s history.

Watch Kelly Clarkson sing Piece by Piece: