American Idol Announces "Idol Gives Back"

American Idol had big news tonight and it wasn't just the final 12 (which in itself should be a story). American Idol announced that there will be a special two night event on April 24 and 25 called Idol Gives Back. The special will "raise awareness and funds for organizations that provide relief programs to help children and young people in extreme poverty in American and Africa." In preparation for Idol Gives Back, Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell traveled to Africa to see the conditions in which many children live. Paula Abdul will visit Mississippi while Randy Jackson will visit Louisiana where they hope to make a difference in the lives of needy children.

The first day of Idol Gives Back, The American Idol show on Tuesday April 24 will be a normal show featuring the top six performers singing songs with an "inspirational" theme. After the show viewers will be able to vote as usual. The twist will be that for each vote cast, the show's sponsors, Coca Cola, AT&T, as well as Ford, will donate money that will go to the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund.

The second night of Idol Gives Back, the results show on Wednesday, April 25 will be a two hours event (8-10 p.m. ET live). This will be a "star-studded extravaganza." Performers will include: Gwen Stefani, Pink, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Annie Lennox, Borat, and Bono. Viewers will be able to make their own charitable donations on toll-free lines and via the Internet. The money raised by both shows will benefit children in Africa and the United States equally.
Ryan Seacrest quoted Bono in saying that, "We'll see worlds collide when Africa appears on America's most-watched television show... it's a little bit of pop history."