In his own words, "What a funky lady."

Steven Tyler made a surprise appearance on Thursday's edition of American Idol, auditioning in drag under the moniker of "Pepper LaBeija," the drag queen famously profiled in 1990's Paris Is Burning.

The androgynous Aerosmith frontman, and former Idol judge, appeared before the current panel of Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Keith