Kelly Clarkson Gushes Over Mariah Carey On American Idol Stage, Performs New Single ‘People Like Us’ [VIDEO]

Even after all her post-Idol success, Kelly Clarkson still gets nervous performing in front of the judges. But she’s particularly in awe, singing before new judge Mariah Carey, whom the original idol, well, idolizes.

When Clarkson returned to where it all began on the Idol stage on Thursday night, performing her new single, “People Like Us,” from her “Greatest Hits – Chapter One” album, the multi Grammy-award winner Clarkson proceeded to gush about Carey, who joined Clarkson on stage after her performance.

Clarkson proclaimed, “Oh my god! I love her,” then went on saying, “I’m so glad you’re not mean,” causing the audience to laugh.

This isn’t the first time Clarkson has fawned over a fellow diva. When she met Beyoncé while performing at President Obama’s inauguration, she tweeted, “Seriously, God did good. She is so beautiful!”

Watch the exchange between Clarkson and Carey below:

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