'American Idol:' Top 3 Homecoming Plus Judges' Choice Song Spoilers

Get ready for the annual tear-fest as the 'American Idol' Top 3, once a mere grocery bagger, high school student and amateur jazz singer, returned home for a hero's welcome, this past weekend.

No longer able to walk the streets of their respective hometowns without a sobbing fan shoving a body part and a Sharpie in their face, pleading for an autograph, the Idols finally came face to face with their new found fame.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, it was an eventful reunion for the Top 4. That's right, James Durbin, though out of the competition, had plenty of fans, something like 30,000, awaiting him when he returned to Santa Cruz on what is now known as "Durbin Day." As for the remaining 'Idol' contenders, it was a whirlwind weekend that will hopefully inspire and revitalize the Top 3 as they hit the final stretch.

Scotty McCreery was treated like the country equivalent of Justin Bieber, with his hometown of Garner, NC dropping $60,000 to accommodate 30,000 fans gathered to celebrate the seventeen-year-old's homecoming. It seems a good chunk of that cash may have gone to local law enforcement, who were forced to block off Scotty's neighborhood, where fans were staked outside the McCreery home.

The former grocery store employee stopped by the Lowe's Foods, where he used to work and joked around with the staff while brushing up on his bagging skills. Afterwards, he made his way to Lake Benson Park, where the mayor gave him the key to the town and proclaimed May 14th, "Scotty McCreery Day."

While performing onstage for thousands of screaming fans, Scotty, to his surprise, was joined by Josh Turner for an impromptu performance of "Your Man" aka "Baby, lock them doors and turn the lights down low..." As for what the judges chose for Scotty's crucial performance this week, it's Kenny Rogers' "She Believes in Me."

Underdog turned top contender, Haley Reinhart began her homecoming weekend in Deer Park, IL with a stop at the AT&T store, where she signed autographs and chatted with some 200 fans. Afterwards, Haley returned to Wheeling High School, complete with a police escort. Inside, the Top 3 finalist took questions on her 'Idol' experience from approximately 400 fans, all wearing "Haley" T-shirts.

The Wheeling Village Hall was the next pit stop on Haley's hometown tour, where she performed a few songs for local fans. The weekend culminated in a performance at Arlington Park, before 30,000 fans, despite the dreary weather. Haley was joined onstage by the folks responsible for her musical talent, her parents, Harry and Patti. Expect to hear Haley belt out the judges' pick, Alanis Morrisette's 'You Oughtta Know' this Wednesday night.

Georgia's own Lauren Alaina kicked off her homecoming with a visit to the local Chattanooga FOX affiliate followed by a stop at the AT&T store. Lauren then led a parade through the city, featuring two local high school marching bands before arriving at her alma mater, Fort Olgelthorpe Lakeview High School where she was greeted with a banner reading "We Support Our Lauren Alaina!"

Lauren, whose mentioned the tornadoes that have wreaked havoc in the South East several times on 'Idol', paid a visit to Ringold, Georgia, an area hit especially hard. She then led another parade to Coolidge Park, where the mayor gave her a key to the city and the young finalist performed a few songs for her fans. Next week, get ready to hear Lauren sing Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance," at the judges' request.

What are you thoughts on the Top 3's return home and the judges' song picks for this week? Let us know in the comments and vote for your favorite in our poll!

'American Idol' airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8PM ET on FOX.