Mariah Carey, Wyclef Jean and Willie Nelson are the latest musical guests to contribute their talents to “America: A Tribute to Heroes,” a two-hour, telethonlike special set to air simultaneously on several networks Friday night. The commercial-free event will raise money for long-term relief efforts benefiting those directly affected by last week’s terrorist attacks.
The appearance will mark Carey’s first public showing in months. The singer received psychiatric treatment in July after a physical and emotional breakdown and canceled a scheduled Barbara Walters TV interview. Nevertheless, her movie “Glitter” premieres Friday and its accompanying soundtrack album was released September 11 and will debut on next week’s Billboard 200 albums chart at #7.
Actors Jimmy Smits and Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm in the Middle”) round out the packed lineup’s new additions, according to an event publicist.
They join previously announced participants including Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jim Carrey, Sheryl Crow, Faith Hill and Tom Hanks, among many others. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will play the anthemic “I Won’t Back Down,” according to the group’s publicist.
“America: A Tribute to Heroes” was hatched by CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox, all of which will broadcast the star-studded event live at 9 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. CST, and on taped delay for the Mountain and Pacific time zones.
While the networks will cover the program’s cost, other television, radio and Internet outlets are invited to share the broadcast. MTV and VH1 announced their commitment to carry the show Tuesday, and BET, Comedy Central, Court TV, Discovery, E!, Fox Family, FX, HBO, Lifetime, PAX, PBS, Showtime, the Sundance Channel, Telemundo, TLC, TNN, TNT, the WB, Univision, UPN and a number of Westwood One and Clear Channel Communications radio affiliates, as well as Web site Yahoo.com, signed on Wednesday (September 19).