Carrie Makes Trip to Africa for “Idol Gives Back”

NASHVILLE – (April 24, 2007) Two-time Grammy winner, reigning CMA Female Vocalist of The Year and American Idol Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood took a break from working on her next album in the early days of April to take a trip to South Africa for American Idol’s “Idol Gives Back” charity special. An exclusive music video package from her trip will air on the show April 25.

The African trip was organized by American Idol and Comic Relief, and during her two-day tour Underwood and three members of her band visited and played for schools, orphanages, hospices and health care centers in and around Johannesburg.

Underwood has also recorded an acoustic version of The Pretenders’ classic “I’ll Stand By You,” which will serve as the music bed for this American Idol video package.

American Idol and the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF) have partnered to raise awareness and funds for organizations that provide relief programs to help children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa. For every vote cast, AMERICAN IDOL sponsors Coca-Cola and AT&T, along with a range of additional partners, will donate money to the charity. During the Wednesday, April 25 broadcast, adding to the corporate contributions, viewers will be able to make their own donations via toll-free lines and the Internet.