Watch Kellie Pickler, 'Idol' Contestant Duet Martina McBride Ballad

Kellie Pickler returned to American Idol two decades after she competed on the show in 2006. The North Carolina-born country artist teamed up with current Idol contestant Hannah Harper to perform a powerful Martina McBride ballad together.

Harper, 26, a mother of three from Willow Springs, Missouri, began the pair’s rendition of “A Broken Wing,” and Pickler quickly joined her. McBride released the song on her 14-track record, Evolution, in 1997. The performance earned cheers from the audience and a standing ovation from judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Paula Abdul, one of three original American Idol judges who returned as a guest judge on Monday evening (May 4).

“And with a broken wing/ She still sings/ She keeps an eye on the sky/ With a broken wing/ She carries her dreams/ Man, you ought to see her fly”

Pickler returned to American Idol along with Abdul, former judge Randy Jackson (who served as a guest mentor to the Top 5 contestants), and a few other contestants who competed on the show in 2006, including winner Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, Paris Bennett and Bucky Covington. American Idol airs on ABC on Monday nights from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT. It’s available to stream the next day on Hulu. Watch Harper’s performance with Pickler here: