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Ruben Studdard on Almost Being Voted Off American Idol

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On a 2003 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, beloved American Idol contestants Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Justin Guarini discussed their lives after being on the iconic show, and performed a few of their hot singles.

After the show, Oprah wanted to know how Ruben reacted when—with five contestants left—he landed in the bottom two, and it looked like he might be voted off the show.

"Clay was crying," Ruben said of that emotional day. "I mean somebody had to go, man. Honestly, the attitude I had about the show all the way through, after I made the top 12, was that it was really just a game of numbers."

Watch Clay and Ruben share a few memories and relive this dramatic moment.