Halfway through the American Idol finale, Casey James began singing the 1988 Poison power ballad, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”  Given the format of the the night, even the most oblivious viewer knew that Bret Michaels was going to make and appearance.  After the first verse, Casey James turned and Bret Michaels appeared at the back of the stage, stepping up to join Casey for the rest of the song.  The song was a nice touch, symbolic for both performers for very different reasons.

But if one happens to be a fan of the celebrity gossip site TMZ, then one already knew that Bret Michaels was probably making some sort of appearance on the American Idol finale.  TMZ reported earlier that one of their minions had spotted Bret Michaels at the Nokia Theatre.  Surely he would have at least a cameo, they speculated.  Perhaps he would perform?

And perform he did.

Bret Michaels’ story is an amazing testament to spirit and perseverance.  Back in mid-April, he was admitted to a Texas hospital for an emergency appendectomy.  Eight days later, Michaels, feeling the worst headache he said he had ever experienced, was rushed to the hospital and into the intensive care unit.  He was diagnosed with a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage.  After nearly dying, the Poison frontman fought back and was released.  Doctors thought his recovery remarkable.

During his hospitalizations, America watched Bret Michaels duel in Donald Trump’s boardroom on the reality show “Celebrity Apprentice.”  He had already let it be known that he was going to try to make it to the finale, which was partially a live broadcast.  When it was announced on the show that he would compete against Holly Robinson Peete in the last challenge for the title of Celebrity Apprentice, he was still recuperating.  The Thursday before the finale, he appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to talk about his ordeal.  That evening, he checked himself back into a Los Angeles hospital because he felt numbness along his left side.  Doctors said he had had a ‘warning stroke.’  Worse, tests showed that he had a congenital heart defect, a hole in his heart.

He told TMZ Saturday that he was not the kind of guy to wait around for the other shoe to drop…

He was in New York for the “Celebrity Apprentice” finale.  And he won.

Three nights later, he was singing “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” with Casey James.

At song’s end, he leaned into the microphone.  “It does,” he said.

Casey James’ rose was his American Idol opportunity.  His thorn was missing the American Idol finale by one position.  Bret Michaels’ rose was his success as a singer and a reality show celebrity.  His thorn was the sudden series of physical problems that nearly killed him.

Every rose has its thorn…

Check out the video of Bret Michaels and Casey James performing “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”