[url id="/news/topic/american_idol/index.jhtml"]"American Idol"[/url] has a long tradition of inviting former finalists back to grace its stage, and on Thursday two of last season's top finishers will join that club. According to a spokesperson for the show, last season's fourth-place finisher, flame-haired rocker Allison Iraheta, will perform her latest single, "Scars," on the one-hour broadcast.

She'll likely be a ray of sunshine on an otherwise tense 60 minutes during which four of the top 24 finishers will see their dreams of stardom dashed as the first two men and women semifinalists will be sent packing. The performance will make Iraheta's first trip back to the "Idol" stage since she was eliminated last spring. It could also provide a boost for the sales of Iraheta's modestly selling debut, [article id="1627477"]Just Like You,[/article] which debuted at #31 in December before sliding out of the top 200 just five weeks later, with sales to date totaling less than 100,000.

Thursday's elimination episode -- which will follow Tuesday night's performances from the top 12 female finishers and Wednesday night's turn by the top 12 males -- will also see the return of 2009 champ Kris Allen. The Arkansas singer will perform and also share some of the footage he shot on a [article id="1632107"]recent trip to Haiti[/article]

in an effort to raise awareness of the United Nation Foundation's work in the Caribbean nation in the wake of last month's devastating earthquake.

The Foundation is one of the organizations that will benefit from this year's "Idol Gives Back" special (April 21) and viewers will be asked to make donations online or by text during the episode.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' [article id="1486475"]"American Idol" page[/article], where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.