Michael Sings for Katrina Relief

Michael Jackson is ready for action.

The entertainer, who's been enjoying a lengthy vacation in the United Arab Emigrates, has announced plans to record a song to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. The song, titled "From the Bottom of My Heart," is set to be released on 2 Seas Records, a label owned by Prince Abdulla Hamad Alkhalifa of Bahrain.

Jackson reportedly hopes to enlist other musical types to chime in on the song, in a flashback to the successful recording of "We Are the World," which helped raise millions of dollars for African aid, and the less successful recording of "What More Can I Give," his much delayed post-9-11 charity anthem.

"It pains me to watch the human suffering taking place in the Gulf Region of my country," Jackson said in a statement. "My heart and prayers go out to every individual who has had to endure the pain and suffering caused by this tragedy. I will be reaching out to others within the music industry, to join me in helping to bring relief and hope to these resilient people who have lost everything."

Of course, Jackson isn't the only celebrity pitching in on relief efforts.

Many of Hollywood's A-listers have been vocal about their contributions to hurricane-related charities in an effort to inspire donations from the masses.

Here's a look at how some famous folk are lending a hand in Katrina's wake:

George Clooney donated $1 million to the United Way for hurricane relief. "There isn't much any of us can do right now but pour money into this tragedy," Clooney said. "We're all in this one together." Steven Spielberg and his family donated $750,000 to the American Red Cross for immediate relief and $750,000 to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund for long-term recovery efforts. Mississippi-based author John Grisham and his wife established the Rebuild The Coast Fund to aid in relief efforts on Mississippi's Gulf Coast and made an initial contribution of $5 million. Oprah Winfrey spent time Monday among the 18,500 New Orleans evacuees who have taken refuge in Houston's Astrodome. "My pledge is to keep the stories of these people alive," the Queen of Daytime said. Complete news coverage, ways you can help, message boards, more
Macy Gray also visited with displaced New Orleanians at the Astrodome, where she handed out clothes and toiletries on Saturday. "I just really wanted to help out," Gray said. "It is crazy when you don't know what is going to happen to you the next day and suddenly that is what their lives are like." Jamie Foxx hosted an auction event at Miami's Delano Hotel at which more than $600,000 was raised in a few hours for the American Red Cross. A New Year's Eve date with Paris Hilton was sold for $200,000, while a date with Colin Farrell went for $10,000. Guests paid $200 a ticket to attend the event. Producers of American Idol announced that the season four contestants would add a date to their Idols Live! Tour and play a Sept. 11 concert in Syracuse, New York, to benefit relief efforts. Organizers of Ozzfest teamed with Red Cross volunteers to accept cash donations from concertgoers Sunday at the tour's final date in West Palm Beach, Florida. Green Day, R.E.M., John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Pearl Jam, Moby, the Beastie Boys and the Roots are among those who have joined with MoveOn.org to find housing for victims of the hurricane at HurricaneHousing.org. Willie Nelson launched a radio ad campaign calling for donations for farmers who suffered severe losses due to Hurricane Katrina to be made through FarmAid.org. Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis were named honorary chairs of Habitat for Humanity's "Operation Home Delivery," a long-term rebuilding plan for families left homeless by the hurricane. Barry Manilow will add a dollar to each dollar donated through the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope with the fund also adding a dollar, turning a $1 donation into $3. The Recording Academy has set up a relief fund with an initial donation of $1 million to help "music people" in need. Montel Williams plans to devote an episode of his hour-long syndicated show to Hurricane Relief on Sept. 12. The Urban Television Network, partnering with the Oasis Foundation, said it would put on a national telethon, a concert series and other events for hurricane relief. Starting Sunday, Manhattan jazz musicians will embark on "When the Saints Go Marching In," a weeklong effort to raise money for the American Red Cross by playing concerts in clubs throughout the city. MTV, VH1 and CMT's benefit special, ReAct Now, airs Saturday, featuring performances from the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, the Neville Brothers and Kanye West. Stars including Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Randy Newman, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart and Neil Young are scheduled to perform on Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast, a prime-time benefit special to be simulcast on numerous networks, including E!, on Friday. Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Nicholson and Chris Rock are among the celebrities slated to appear.

Finally, there was at least one celeb whose relief efforts reportedly didn't pan out as planned. According to Australia's Herald Sun, Sean Penn traveled to New Orleans and boarded a small motor boat with the intention of rescuing children still stranded by the storm. Unfortunately, Penn apparently neglected to plug a hole in the boat, which began taking on water, forcing the actor to start bailing and thwarting his rescue attempts.

However, according to an eyewitness, Penn continued his efforts and went on to rescue numerous people in need. "I witnessed him rescuing up to 40 people," Douglas Brinkley, who was there on assignment for Rolling Stone, told the New York Daily News. "He was up to his waist in toxic muck."