Katharine McPhee returns to 'American Idol' and is practically upstaged

American Idol's top 24 took the stage Sunday night, each performing with one of their idols for this week's celebrity duets.

Returning to the American Idol stage was Katharine McPhee, the runner-up from the show's highest-rated season in 2006, as she teamed up with Season 19 frontrunner Willie Spence for a powerful duet of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli's "The Prayer."

The magical moment, which was dedicated to Willie's recently departed grandfather and Katharine's late father, made viewers feel like they were actually watching a concert. In fact, of all the performances of the night, Wille was one of the few, who actually outsang his celeb partner. One viewer even took to Twitter Sunday, sharing: "Can we crown Willie Spence the @AmericanIdol winner right now?"

“You can do no wrong in my eyes,” said judge Luke Bryan, while Lionel Richie called the 20-year-old prodigy “Willie Pavarotti!” and gushed, “It’s just mesmerizing to watch you.” Katy Perry described Willie and Kat’s performance as “Goosebump Central” and, after also watching Willie effortlessly deliver an epic interpretation of Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings,” advised him to stay in this lame and keep doing “amazing classic songs that other powerhouses sing.”

Video Transcript

[WHOOSHING]

BOTH: (SINGING) Reaching out to touch you, reaching to the sky!

- American Idol's top 24 took the stage Sunday night. Each performing with one of their idols for this week's celebrity duets. And returning to Idol was Katharine McPhee, the runner-up from the show's highest-rated season in 2006. As she teamed up with season 19 front-runner Willie Spence for a powerful duet of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli's "The Prayer."

BOTH: (SINGING) Give us faith, so we'll be safe. [VOCALIZING]

- The magical moment, which was dedicated to Willie's recently-departed grandfather and Katherine's late father, made viewers feel like they were actually watching a concert. And of all the performances of the night, Willie was one of the few who actually outsang his celeb partner. One fan took to Twitter Sunday sharing, "Can we crown Willie Spence the American Idol winner right now?"

KATHARINE MCPHEE: He made "The Prayer," something that Andrea Bocelli sings, sound like something that Willie would sing.

KATY PERRY: You really did it. You know, I thought when you sang that duet, that was your lane. It was goosebump central everywhere.

- And for his solo performance of the night, Willie also delivered his interpretation of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings," which was equally as epic.

WILLIE SPENCE: (SINGING) Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything, everything I wish I could be.

[SIREN WAILS]

[WHOOSHING]