American Idol may taketh away, at least in terms of its rapidly dwindling pool of contestants, but it's also gearing up to giveth back, with more than a little help from its star-studded friends.
Fox has unveiled the first batch of A-list supporters to have signed on to appear in the show's second annual "Idol Gives Back" special this spring, which will once again raise awareness and funds for a slew of U.S. and international charities.
Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Super Bowl brothers Peyton and Eli Manning are among the non-performers scheduled to appear on next month's two-hour special, while Fergie, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox, John Legend and Snoop Dogg are set to represent the more musically minded of big-hearted stars.
Of course, no star-studded humanitarian effort would be complete without a requisite appearance from Bono, who is also on board for the charity special.
It's unclear in what capacity the latter list, U2 frontman included, will appear, whether in pleas for donations or as performers.
American Idol has also enlisted some of its own to aid in its charity special, with season four winner Carrie Underwood and season five also-ran Chris Daughtry attached to appear.
The list of big-name do-gooders, which, as always, includes judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul and host Ryan Seacrest, will no doubt grow longer as the event grows nearer.
Last year, the inaugural "Idol Gives Back" succeeded in raising more than $76 million for a variety of charities, all benefiting underprivileged children at home and abroad. The show drew an impressive array of talent to the Fox airwaves, including Ellen DeGeneres, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Goldie Hawn, Helen Mirren, Emily Blunt, Marc Anthony, Hugh Laurie, Kevin Bacon, Pink, Borat, Matt Damon, Forest Whitaker, Teri Hatcher, inaugural champ Kelly Clarkson and, as again this year, fellow Idol Underwood, among others.
Taking the goodwill one step further, Idol producers also held off on that week's contestant elimination, though the stay didn't last long, with two wannabes facing the chopping block the following week.
This year, by the time the charity show rolls around, the contestants will have been whittled down to a top eight, all of whom will perform during the special. Possibly hinting at things—and songs—to come, last week it was announced that the Idol producers had finally been granted access to the Beatles' songbook, a goal which had been long desired and requests for which were previously unheeded by the Fab Four's music publisher.
While last year's two-hour show was spread over the course of two nights, this time around, "Idol Gives Back" has been condensed to a one-night, but still two-hour, show. It airs Apr. 9.
Meanwhile, rounds continue this week, with the top eight men and eight women performing. On Thursday, four more contestants will be eliminated, leaving just 12 wannabes remaining in the competition.