Michaels returns to the stage at american idol finale

Bret Michaels made his return to performing after a triple health crisis at the American Idol live finale in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (26May10) when he joined talent show finalist Casey James for a rendition of Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn.

In the past two months, the bandana-wearing rocker has survived an emergency appendectomy, a mild-stroke and a near-fatal brain haemorrhage. Last week (ends21May10) he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart.

He received a standing ovation from Idol fans when he walked onstage at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Another classic rocker, Alice Cooper, kicked off the finale by performing his rock anthem School's Out with a stage full of schoolboys and schoolgirls. The Idol finalists joined the rocker, dancers and singers all dressed up in school uniforms.

The two-hour show featured tributes to Simon Cowell, who ended his tenure as a judge on the finale - and there were appearances by the Bee Gees, Michael McDonald, Chicago, Christina Aguilera, Alanis Morissette and Daryl Hall and John Oates, who all performed with the Idol finalists.

There was one awkward moment when a former wannabe contestant who was rejected at the audition stage during a previous season of the talent show stormed the stage during a comedy skit and hurled abuse at Cowell, insisting he was going to replace the music mogul on the show because "I'm more entertaining than you."

Calling it "a Kanye West moment," the unruly reject fought to take control of the microphone from another former wannabe. The mic was eventually silenced, cameras spun away from the protestor and show producers cut to a commercial break.

At the end of the show finalist Lee DeWyze was crowned the winner of the ninth season of American Idol, beating fellow contestant Crystal Bowersox.

After the results were announced, a shocked DeWyze said, "I don’t know (how it feels) this is amazing. Thank you guys so much for everything. Thank you, thank you! I can’t believe this. I love you guys. Crystal I love you. I’m so happy right now, I’ve never been happier in my life."