‘American Idol’ Finale: The 10 Best Performances (Video)

With a performance lineup as star-studded as any award show, the American Idol Season 10 finale boasted plenty of buzzworthy moments besides the crowning of its new winner, Scotty McCreery. Everyone from Beyoncé and Lady Gaga to Carrie Underwood and the Idol judges themselves hit the stage — here were the 10 numbers that kept people watching.

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Finale

1) Scotty McCreery, “I Love You This Big”

Yes, it’s got a cheesy title and even cheesier lyrics, but you couldn’t help but be moved watching McCreery get choked up while he sang his debut single (and now, coronation song), “I Love You This Big.” The best part though: Jack Black’s jilted look when he didn’t get a hug. Sorry, Jack — those are reserved for the McCreery clan.  

2) Steven Tyler, “Dream On” 

It was the performance we’ve been waiting for all season. Steven Tyler took a break from his zany judging of the Idol hopefuls to finally do a little singing himself, with a rendition of Aerosmith’s “Dream On” that may have been truncated and sans Joe Perry and the rest of Aerosmith, but still rocked enough to close the show. 

3) Beyoncé, “1+1” 

After joining the Top 13 girls for a medley of her hits, Billboard Millennium Award-winner Beyoncé returned to debut a brand new song from her upcoming album, 4 — “1+1,” a sweeping soul ballad that featured plenty unbelievable runs and and talk of making love.  

4) Lady Gaga, “The Edge of Glory”

Lady Gaga channeled Bruce Springsteen and sang the latest single from her just-released Born This Way album from atop a massive rock formation that took over the stage. The performance ended on a high note, with Gaga and her preferred dancer (of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame) jumping off the precipice and disappearing below — hopefully onto a mattress.

5) Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, “Aguanile”

The Latin superstar dug up a salsa classic that’s become a hit of his own, thanks to his role in the Hector Lavoe biopic “El Cantante.” It didn’t hurt that he had the legendary Sheila E. on the timbales and the “Most Beautiful Woman,” wife and “Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez, shaking her famous booty like nobody’s business. 

6)  James Durbin & Judas Priest, “Living After Midnight” & “Breaking the Law”

Clad in his finest biker gear, resident Idol rocker James Durbin traded lines with the veteran metal band’s frontman Rob Halford, and you just knew he was dying inside because he’s been on a mission to bring metal to “Idol” all season long. A great way to kick off the show. 

7)  Carrie Underwood & Lauren Alaina, “Before He Cheats” 

Idol’s glorious past meets its promising future. The season 4 champ and country star was paired up with this season’s runner-up on one of her biggest hits, and still one of the greatest revenge fantasies ever put to song. No, Lauren’s swagger and angst didn’t even come close to Carrie’s, but she was singing with her actual idol onstage for the first time — how mad could she really be? 

8) TLC & Lil Jon, “Scrubs” & “Waterfalls” 

We’re not sure why or how the surviving members of TLC ended up on the season finale, but we’re not complaining — it was a much-appreciated moment of nostalgia, seeing them back onstage and representing for their fallen sister with the help of some of the top “Idol” girls. RIP Left Eye. 

9) Haley Reinhart & Tony Bennett, “Steppin’ Out” 

Hopefuly Haley embarks on a jazz career after “Idol,” because between this and her incredible Charles Mingus duet with Casey Abrams midway through the season, she’s clearly proven that she has the chops for it. She made a lovely duet partner for the great Tony Bennett and showed why she made it all the way to third place this season. 

10) Bono, the Edge & the Spider-Man Cast, “Turn Off the Dark”

The Broadway cast of Spider-Man traveled all the way to the West coast to bring their acrobatic (but no longer dangerous, we hope) stunts to Idol, and composers Bono and the Edge were there to support them, performing a song from the musical that would fit right in on a new U2 album.