It may take a bit of digging, but Idol Gives Back is in iTunes this morning. I had to click on the ‘American Idol Top 12′ banner and then I saw an ‘Idol Gives Back’ banner.

iTunes has a number of songs and videos including ‘What about Now’ by Daughtry, ‘Good and Broken’ and ‘See You Again’ by Miley Cyrus, ‘Praying for Time’ by Carrie Underwood, ‘Before He Cheats’ by Terri Hatcher and Band From TV plus more.

All proceeds go to charities here in America and around the world. Why not download the songs?

Idol Gives Back is on tonight. Celebrities from all walks of life will show to help raise money for those who need it around the world. However, Idol Gives Back starts early! 7:30 eastern, 6:30 central!

Scheduled to appear:

• Bono
• Brad Pitt
• Reese Witherspoon
• Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana)
• Mariah Carey
• Eli Manning
• Peyton Manning
• Fergie
• Chris Daughtry
• Carrie Underwood
• Robin Williams
• Celine Dion
• Forest Whitaker
• Billy Crystal
• Dane Cook
• Kiefer Sutherland
• Vanessa Hudgens
• Ashley Tisdale
• Jennifer Connolly
• Elliott Yamin
• Fantasia
• Annie Lennox
• John Legend
• Snoop Dogg
• Maroon 5
• Heart
• Gloria Estefan
• … and many more.

Last year an extraordinary amount of money, over $75 million, was raised and I’m certain we can surpass it this year.

You can donate online or call in (1 877 436 5243). Last year you could donate via iTunes or even just purchase music to support Idol Gives Back! All the ways to donate will be revealed during tonights show.

iTunes is running a promotion where previous American Idol’s CDs are only $7.99! And it’s not just previous CDs. The latest from Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and many more are included. That’s a steal!

American Idol Alumni Artists Included:

• Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway, Thankful and My December
• Justin Guarini - Justin Guarini
• Fantasia - Fantasia and Free Yourself
• Diana DeGarmo - Blue Skies
• Clay Aiken - A Thousand Different Ways and Measure of a Man
• Ruben Studdard - The Return, Soulful and I Need an Angel
• Taylor Hicks - Taylor Hicks
• Katharine McPhee - Katharine McPhee
• Bo Bice - The Real Thing
• Blake Lewis - Audio Day Dream
• Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts and Carnival Ride
• Daughtry - Daughtry
• Jordin Sparks - Jordin Sparks
• Bucky Covington - Bucky Covington
• Josh Gracin - Josh Gracin and We Weren’t Crazy
• Kimberley Locke - Based on a True Story and One Love
• Elliott Yamin - Elliott Yamin
• Kellie Pickler - Small Town Girl
• Constantine Maroulis - Pray for the Soul of Betty
• William Hung - Inspiration
• Jim Verraros - Rollercoaster

Each CD is only $7.99 on iTunes and you can download your copy today!

This isn’t Idol related, but NKOTB, New Kids On The Block, are coming back! They are going to make all new music and go on a reunion tour. Will they make it? Can they have success again?

I’m sure a lot of American Idol singers were fans back in the day, even if they won’t admit it. The ‘Kids’ were cool for a time, but now have grown into men and have been absent from the scene for years.

So do you think they can make it? Were you a fan? What’s your favorite song?

Big news on Idol last night, well big news to me. One of my favorites from last season, Phil Stacey, will have a country album out on April 29th! That’s just a few weeks away.

There is no song in iTunes yet, but there is a video on YouTube.

I haven’t heard Phil on the radio yet, but I’m ready to buy the album! Come on iTunes!

Idol fans, the American Idol Countdown widget has been updated yet again. It now counts down to the official finale date of May 21st 2008! Ohh it’s getting so close.

The widget is available for many different types of sites like Wordpress, Blogger, Facebook, Bebo, Ning, iGoogle or just your own website. Actually, it’ll work almost anywhere.

Click on the “Get Widget” button on the right side of the screen, and it’ll show you all the options and give you the code necessary.

Enjoy!

Week after week, performance after performance, Amanda Overmyer continues to baffle me. I just can’t understand the words coming out of her mouth. It all blends together and it just sounds like she’s mumbling.

Yet, the judges love her and she continues to get good reviews every week. I just don’t get it.

She kind of reminds me of Bucky Covington. I didn’t think his voice was that great, or that understandable either, yet he did quite well for himself.

So what do you think of Amanda Overmyer? Good? Bad? Other?

I’m not a big fan of Bucky Covington, but whenever It’s Good To Be Us comes on the radio, I can’t help but listen.

Even though I like the song, I can’t say I like the video. It sounds like such a good couples song and making a video all about motocross seems like the hick thing to do.

Here is the behind the scenes video shoot if you’d like to know how they made the video.

Why is there no place online that I can watch last weeks American Idol episodes? I was working late, or out with friends, or doing something that caused me to miss each episode of American Idol last week. If it was on Hulu, then I tune in anytime.

What’s Hulu? Each of the major networks are teaming up to create Hulu, an online resource for TV shows. Just logon and start watching TV today in your browser. It’s got a lot of good TV from the Simpsons, Family Guy, Terminator, Apprentice, House and many more. So why don’t they have American Idol?

I know I can download individual performances in iTunes, but I just want to watch last weeks shows. I don’t need to own anything.

Now we are down to the top 12 though. This is where we can start really picking our favorites and I’ll have to be sure not to miss anything on a go forward.

So what did I miss last week?!

Ever wonder what Carrie Underwood would look like as a brunette? Or maybe in a football uniform or as a sexy cop? Well now you can find out.

Her All American Girl music video has her dressing up in lots of different outfits from beauty queen to news reporter, firefighter and many more. Even ‘Before He Cheats’ Carrie makes a few appearances.

Check out the video that looks like she had a lot of fun making.

Which Carrie do you like?