This season American Idol was supposed to host an online songwriting competition in conjunction with the series. The prize winning song was going to air on the season finale in lieu of those ‘classic AI hits’ of days gone by such as “I Wanna Be Inside Your Heaven”, and “Do I Make You Proud”. (Yes, we’re being sarcastic! The only decent AI finale song was “A Moment Like This”…the record sales alone prove it.)

Unfortunately, the plans to coordinate this competition have been put on hold indefinitely. Of course, the competition was never formally announced, but that didn’t stop the blogs from pouncing on the news. As Ken Warwick, one of the show’s producers told TV Week, “What with the charity show, we're up to our ears in it. It [the contest] may still happen, but at the moment it's on the back burner."

The ‘charity’ show Warwick is referring to kicks off on April 24, 2007 and concludes with a musical extravaganza the following night. It’s referred to as "Idol Gives Back." The finalists, there will be about six left at the time, will sing inspirational songs. Celebrities and musicians such as Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Annie Lenox, Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) and Bono are scheduled to make appearances.

AI is encouraging corporations to make a donation for each vote recorded on Tuesday and viewers can make their own donations online or via toll-free pledge lines during the Wednesday event. Ford, Coca-Cola and AT&T have already signed on.

This should be a spectacular opportunity for folks to make a difference in the war against global poverty. To learn more about this program, check out the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund’s informational page.