Jennifer Lopez gets emotional on Idol

Jennifer Lopez fought back tears during a group performance on Thursday night's (28Jan16) American Idol.

The singing competition has reached Hollywood Week, the groups stage that sees hopefuls sing together to try and win a place at the live finals. American Idol is currently in its fifteenth and final season, and emotions were clearly running high for Jennifer during a rendition of Clean Bandit's Rather Be.

"I'm gonna miss Idol," she whispered to fellow judge Harry Connick Jr.

Jennifer has been on the show since 2011, joining the judging panel along with Steven Tyler after Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres left, though she had a one season hiatus, returning in 2014.

Explaining her reaction to Rather Be, Jennifer told the performers how special America Idol has been for her.

"While you guys were singing 'There's no place I'd rather be,' I got very emotional because you reminded me how much I love this job and how much I'm really gonna miss Idol," she said, trying to hold it together. "I love this whole thing and I love what it does for singers, and I love everything about it. It's been a joy for me to sit here and watch this for so many years. Thank you."

It wasn't just the track that got the Let's Get Loud singer going, but also the stage of the competition.

"For me to be part of American Idol is and always has been an honour," she smiled. "Hollywood Week, you see the artists emerge. You see the real performers emerge, you see who can make it in this business. We're here to find a superstar."

Luckily Jennifer has her Vegas residency to focus on, in the wake of American Idol coming to a close. The 46-year-old will be wowing audiences at Planet Hollywood's AXIS Theater until 12 June (16).