Some of the most popular female singers are teaming up to record a single called “Just Stand Up,” to benefit cancer funding. The gathering group of female songbirds, according to MTV includes vocal contributions from Ashanti, Beyoncé, Bedingfield, Ciara, Fergie, Keyshia Cole, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Melissa Etheridge, Miley Cyrus, Natasha Rihanna, Sheryl Crow, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood. The tune is being produced by the powerhouse duo of Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who are working together for the first time in nearly 20 years on the track. According to a press release announcing the project, the song was conceived by Reid, the chairman of the Island Def Jam Music Group, after a meeting with the women behind the Stand Up to Cancer campaign. The song will be available for purchase exclusively on iTunes on September 2nd.
The song and likely a video will get its TV premiere on September 5th, during the live “Just Stand Up” special, which will air simultaneously and commercial-free on CBS, ABC and NBC. Among the entertainers confirmed to either appear or answer phones on the TV broadcast so far are: Casey Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Fran Drescher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Edwards, Scarlett Johansson, Masi Oka, Danica Patrick, Christina Ricci, Robin Roberts, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Meryl Streep, Jon Favreau, America Ferrera, Neil Patrick Harris, Salma Hayek, Abigail Breslin, Josh Brolin, David Cook, Dana Delany, Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron, Goran Visnjic, Forest Whitaker and Reese Witherspoon. Christina Applegate’s expected appearance will be especially poignant, as she is just now recuperating from a recent double mastectomy.
The show will also feature network news anchors Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams, who will report on potentially life-saving research and speak with cancer patients and scientists.
