LISTEN: Lea Michele’s Final Solo on Glee

This Friday will see the end of an era as the last episode of Glee airs on Fox. From a humble, underdog of a comedy, to one of the most beloved shows on television, back to an underdog: Glee has had a roller coaster of a run. One thing that has remained consistent throughout is the singing talent of the actors on the show.

Though reportedly a bit of a diva, Lea Michele has wowed the show's audience since the first time she mentioned her Barbara Streisand obsession and sang her first note. Michele told Entertainment Weekly during the final week of filming that she "got to say everything to everyone here and everyone who will watch it that I wanted to say, but you can't think of the words, and he wrote them." Referring to costar Darren Criss, who penned the song specifically for Michele.

Criss told EW:

"I wrote 'This Time' as a love note to all things Glee. The show itself, the emotions of the people leaving it--both the characters and the actors themselves, the effect it had on everyone -- I tried to cram all these ideas into a single person's narrative. I wanted Rachel's words to encapsulate not only her own personal journey, but everyone's experience of being a part of this show--whether you were behind the camera, in front of the camera, or watching it at home for these past few years. Hearing Lea sing this song was a really cathartic moment for me. It was a perfect way to say goodbye to the whole experience, and I really look forward to getting to share it with the world. I hope 'This Time' will resonate with as many people watching Glee as it did for me and those of us who had a hand in making it."

Listen to solo performances by Michele and Criss below, and listen to Michele's last Glee solo, "This Time," here.