'Idol Gives Back' Backstage Report

Idol Gives Back' Backstage Report

A plethora of stars (including Snoop Dogg, Miley Cyrus and Brad Pitt) stepped up for charity for 'Idol Gives Back 2008,' which aired April 9. AOL TV had backstage access during the taping from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, and offers up the scoop. -- By Mike Maloney

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Carrie Underwood, why did you choose to perform George Michael's 'Praying for Time'?
Tonight's not about singing your latest single. It's about getting people to call in and do something. I've always loved the message of that song. It took me forever to be able to sing [it] all the way through without crying. I know if that song makes me feel that way, then maybe it will make a few other people feel strongly enough about doing something [positive].

Fox

Snoop Dogg, people don't normally associate you with 'American Idol' ...
Why not? I am. How could being on this show hurt me? We're on this show to represent positivity. We're trying to give back. Sometimes you find you're getting older and wiser and you don't worry about your image. This is reality right here.

Michael Becker, American Idol/via Getty Images

Snoop, was there anyone here tonight you were excited to meet?
My daughter [Cori] thinks that Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana are two separate people. She took a picture with Miley. I said, "What about Hannah Montana?" And my daughter, who's 9, said, "She's not here yet."

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Annie Lennox, how were you affected by your participation in 'Idol Gives Back'?
It touched me very much because the medium of television is very powerful, and this [show] is going into the homes of millions of people. I think people are hungry for a kind of consciousness shift. Human rights should be fundamental. When you come to the issues of chronic and endemic poverty, you're really talking about issues of human rights.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

John Legend, how did it come about that you and Fergie would perform together?
We've known each other for quite a while. We toured together; we had the same management. I've known Fergie since before the rest of the world has known her -- I love Fergie. She's a great girl.

Fox

Miley Cyrus, how can young fans, who may not have much money to donate, help too?
I think it doesn't matter if it's a penny or a dollar -- it's a penny more than they had before. To have that self power to say, "Okay, no matter how much I'm putting in, I'm making a difference."

Fox

Annie, did you want to adopt the brothers you met during your trip to Africa?
I have tremendous concern about those kids. The best way that I can [help them] is to get on board with Treatment Action Campaign, a South African grassroots network. I think the solution is not to take children out of the country. [Instead] you give them a sustainable future for the rest of their lives. It needs to be done through advocacy and political change.

Vince Bucci, Getty Images

Gloria Estefan, who encouraged you to
For me, it was my grandmother. She helped everyone who came across her path. I think you learn by example. I think one of the best privileges is to help someone else. It was a great privilege to be invited here tonight.

Vince Bucci, Getty Images

Mark Shriver, what is the mission of your charity, Save the Children?
One in six kids in the United States lives in poverty. Save the Children has been working with those children for over 75 years. Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus came to Eastern Kentucky, where the Cyrus family is from, to see our after-school programs. [Their participation] makes it easier for us to raise funds and affect public policy.

Steve Granitz, WireImage.com