Duets, ABC’s summer entry into the amateur singer arena, isn’t exactly setting the world on fire, but I’m still watching every Thursday. While the contestants are talented enough, it’s really the show’s superstar partner-judges — Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, and Robin Thicke — that remain the real draw.

On that note, ABC is no fool, with the show making time for judges-only numbers alongside the show’s titular pairs with their handpicked hopefuls. The chance to see Clarkson, who owes her career to a minor singing competition named American Idol, display her impressive pipes and interpretive skills on television weekly once again, is my real raison d’être for tuning in.

Two weeks ago, she joined the other three judges for a soulful rendition of George Michael’s “Freedom 90,” a song I love (especially in its MTV 10 incarnation).

Last night, she and John Legend tried on Ray Charles’ “You Don’t Know Me” for size, a hidden treasure of a song I also happen to adore (though I could do without the cloying background singers on his original recording).

Kelly stole the show in both performances, no? Her talent is on another level, totally owning Duets, with Jennifer Nettles proving just how ridiculously versatile singer she is too. Can we get the ladies paired up next?