Candidates giving back to gain votes

For the first time in any of their respective campaigns, presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain are all uniting for one cause: American Idol. The three wanna-be Commander-in-Chiefs will each make an appearance on tomorrow night's Idol Gives Back special that aims to raise funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities.

Embracing pop culture trends in an attempt to amass additional votes is nothing new to this group of candidates: McCain has used the endorsement of The Hills star Heidi Montag as a way of seeming more in touch with the nation's youth while Obama has shaken his booty on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Clinton lampooned herself on Saturday Night Live.

The three Senators will be joined by a cavalcade of celebrities who are all aiming to surpass the $76 million that was raised by the Emmy Award winning special last year. Miley Cyrus performs her hit song "Broken Chains" while American Idol winner Carrie Underwood covers George Michael's "Praying for Time." But arguably the biggest star lending his wattage to the event is Brad Pitt whose sheer presence caused such an uproar in the studio, filming had to be halted while the crowd calmed down.

In fact, the guest list for Idol Gives Back (airing Wednesday, April 9 7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT on FOX) reads like a who's who of Hollywood. Also making appearances on the special are Victoria and David Beckham, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Alicia Keys, Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, The Jonas Brothers, Felicity Huffman, Toby Keith, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Adams, Bono, Celine Dion, Eli and Peyton Manning, Fergie, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Connolly, John Legend, Mariah Carey and Robin Williams.

Idol Gives Back, will be so long that large portions had to be taped Sunday night for insertion into tomorrow's otherwise live show. Many of the biggest names on its star-studded roster - including Snoop Dogg, Miley Cyrus and Carrie Underwood - elected to perform on tape before an invited audience rather than appear live on the 21/2-hour special.

According to spy-witnesses who were in attendance Sunday night at Los Angeles' Kodak theater, the Gives Back charity show opens with the dancers who won So You Think You Can Dance, (a Fox show also created by Idol producers), followed by an appearance by the wife of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, who asked viewers to volunteer their time and services to their communities. (Jimmy Kimmel told the audience that "Simon Cowell is the reason Governor Schwarzenegger must work to secure the borders of this country.")

Underwood performed a George Michael song called "Praying for Time" and Cyrus - arguably the biggest draw in pop music in the world right now - sang one of her standards that seemed appropriate, "Broken Chains." Brad Pitt may have been happy he came on a night when they were videotaping. It seems his microphone was on the blink through at least part of his charity pitch - so they re-recorded, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Cowell was in the South Bronx last Friday, taping a visit to a family who are regular patients at mobile health clinics paid for by The Children's Health Fund. His segment will air along with other pre-taped messages from the presidential hopefuls. Other videos were submitted for the show from U2 frontman Bono, Forrest Whitaker, Jennifer Connolly, Celine Dion, Kobe Bryant, Julianne Moore, Kiefer Sutherland, Dolly Parton and even Ellen DeGeneres (who was supposed to host the show).

Idol host Ryan Seacrest reportedly signed over his paycheck for the night to the charity benefit, according to People magazine.