Bret Michaels Didn't Tell Doctors About 'Idol' Gig

Bret Michaels stunned his doctors by performing on American Idol on Wednesday night - the recovering rocker refused to ask their permission before appearing at the live finale.

The Poison star's health has been flagging in the last two months - he has suffered an emergency appendectomy, a stroke and a near-fatal brain hemorrhage. Last week he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart.

However, Michaels bravely took the stage at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, where he performed a duet with one of the Idol contestants.

Speaking before the show, he told UsMagazine.com, "The doctors, I didn't tell them I was going to do this. I never told them I was coming here. They're going to find out in a few minutes! I may not have told (my family) either. Here's the thing, they have not said everything's OK. I'm running about 75 per cent realistically, physically, but in my soul and my heart, I feel great. I needed to do this tonight, just to come here."

"To be honest, there's still obviously a lot of pain I'm still experiencing... (but) I feel great. It's my first musical performance back (in the spotlight) and after this, I'm hoping to go out on the road, and I'm really looking forward to it. Later on, I may collapse, but right now, I feel great."

Michaels received a standing ovation for his rendition of Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn.