"Every Rose Has Its Thorn": Bret Michaels, On The Mend, Makes Surprise Cameo On "American Idol" Finale

NEW YORK (CBS) It was a big week for singer Bret Michaels. The "Celebrity Apprentice 3" champion, who was "hired" by Donald Trump Sunday night, made a surprise cameo performance on Wednesday night's finale of FOX's "American Idol."

PICTURES: Bret Michaels
PICTURES: "Celebrity Apprentice 3"

The 47-year-old singer, who was hospitalized last week with a warning stroke and faces surgery for hole in his heart, played guitar alongside Casey James for an emotional performance of his 1988 Poison classic "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."

The finale for "American Idol," in the ninth season, doubled as a send-off for Simon Cowell, who will not be returning as a judge.

This was Michaels' first public performance since suffering a brain hemorrhage in late April.

Hitting the stage appeared to be a joy for Michaels, who told the Associated Press, "Seeing fans rock 'n rollin', smiling faces ... is the best medicine I can think of."

Michaels also announced this week that he will undergo heart surgery in the fall; his heart problem was diagnosed during his most recent hospitalization for a warning stroke.. "What they'll do is, go in and they'll do the heart operation," he told Access Hollywood. "They have to let everything clear out and then they'll go in and do the operation in my heart and then I'm [going to] be great."

"Apprentice" Winner Bret Michaels Is Ready To Rock