American Idol Season 7 Episode 29 Idol Gives Back

On April 9, 2008, American Idol aired its annual charity special, Idol Gives Back, for the seventh season. The episode was two hours long and featured various musical performances, skits, and pre-taped segments showing the contestants and celebrities visiting poverty-stricken and distressed areas in the United States and Africa.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the show opened with a group number of the top eight contestants performing versions of “Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and “The Gap Band’s “You Dropped a Bomb on Me.” Ryan welcomed viewers to the show and explained that, along with taking viewer donations, sponsors would also be donating money to the cause.

The first act of the night was Billy Crystal, who performed a hilarious parody of American Idol judging, using clips of the judges giving feedback to the contestants. Following Crystal’s performance, the top 10 contestants returned to the stage to perform the classic “Shout” by The Isley Brothers.

After the performance, Ryan announced that the show had already raised $30 million and that viewers could still donate money throughout the night.

The first pre-taped segment featured one of the judges, Simon Cowell, visiting the rural village of Mombasa, Kenya and spending time with impoverished families and children who had been affected by HIV/AIDS. The segment showed how organizations and charities like Idol Gives Back were helping to provide resources like food, medical care, and education to the families and children in the region.

The next performer was Miley Cyrus, who sang her hit single “See You Again” while wearing a shirt with the word “love” written on it made entirely out of diamonds. After Miley’s performance, the show aired a touching video that featured Hollywood actors and activists visiting schools in New York and New Orleans that had been heavily affected by Hurricane Katrina and providing supplies and encouragement to the students.

Following the video, Ryan announced that the show had raised over $40 million so far and that viewers could continue to donate until the phone lines closed at the end of the show. The next act was a group performance of the classic “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, featuring the top 10 contestants dressed in full disco attire.

The second pre-taped segment featured Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon visiting her old high school in Nashville, Tennessee and speaking about the importance of education. The segment also highlighted organizations like The Children’s Defense Fund and The Boys and Girls Club, which were helping to provide education and support to children and families in need.

Following Reese’s segment, the next performer was Jonas Brothers, who sang their hit single “When You Look Me in the Eyes.” The audience went wild for the trio, who were dressed in matching white suits and sang with their trademark energy and passion.

The third pre-taped segment took viewers to a Native American reservation in Arizona, where American Idol contestants Brooke White and Syesha Mercado visited with disadvantaged children and performed a concert for the community. The segment spoke to the issues of poverty and lack of educational resources on Native American reservations.

After the pre-taped segment, R&B and pop superstar Mariah Carey took the stage and performed her ballad “Fly Like a Bird.” Carey received multiple standing ovations from the audience, who were clearly moved by her powerful and emotive performance.

The last pre-taped segment of the night showed the top eight contestants visiting a school in Joplin, Missouri, that had been destroyed by a tornado. The contestants worked with the students to rebuild and renovate the school, providing hope and encouragement to the traumatized community.

The final act of the night was a group performance of “Up Where We Belong” by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, featuring all of the top 10 contestants plus special guests Fergie, Heart, Michael Johns, and Snoop Dogg. The audience went wild for the star-studded performance, which featured fireworks and a shower of confetti.

Before ending the show, Ryan announced that the show had raised over $68 million and thanked viewers for their incredible generosity. He also thanked the numerous celebrities and performers who had donated their time and talent to the event.

Idol Gives Back is a powerful reminder of the impact that donations and charitable giving can have on poverty and disadvantaged communities across the globe. Through the performances and testimonials of the celebrities and contestants, it becomes clear that even small donations can make a huge difference in the lives of those who are struggling.