Ellen DeGeneres Signs On to Host Fox’s Idol Gives Back
American Idol Spinoff to Raise Money for Six Charities
By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/19/2008 11:00:00 AM
Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres was tapped to host Idol Gives Back. DeGeneres will join regular American Idol host Ryan Seacrest in hosting the night.
Idol Gives Back is an annual spinoff of the popular reality series where the contestants and celebrity guests raise money for charity. Viewers of the show are given toll-free phone lines and a Web site where they can donate to the charities. Last year, the show raised a whopping $76 million, earning a Governors Emmy Awards for the achievement.
This year, the show is raising money for six charities: the Children’s Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save the Children and The Children’s Health Fund.
Among the celebrities and musicians participating in this year’s Idol Gives Back will be Bono, Brad Pitt, Miley Cyrus, Maroon 5, Eli and Peyton Manning, John Legend, Snoop Dogg and Idol veterans Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.
