Elton John, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn
are the latest stars to join an already
impressive cast of celebrities for NBC’s Red Nose Day, Access Hollywood can exclusively confirm.
Billed as a “FUN-raiser,” the two-hour primetime special returns to TV
on Thursday, May 26 and features the biggest
stars across comedy, music, TV and film.
Elton, Will and Vince join other previously confirmed stars such
as Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Sarah
Silverman, Tracy Morgan, Key & Peele, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Zac
Efron and Ellie Kemper.
Additional stars, including Kristen Bell, Emma
Watson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Rose Byrne, Blake Griffin, Emma
Thompson, Chloë Grace Moretz, along with returning host Craig Ferguson,
will participate in the event in order to raise
money for programs working to keep children and
young people safe, healthy and educated.
Besides making telecast donations, the public will also be
able to contribute to this star-studded cause by buying red noses, hats and
other merchandise at Walgreens stores nationwide. Money raised by the Red Nose
Day Fund will go to support projects that aid needy communities in the U.S. and
other countries.
Red Nose Day only just launched in
the U.S. in 2015, but has already raised more than $23 million according
to NBC, and last year’s
broadcast was the first U.S. version of
Britain’s three-decade-old Red Nose Day event that’s raised more than $1
billion.
According to a press statement released to Access Hollywood, “Elton’s
involvement with Red Nose Day goes back many years in the UK, where he has
performed songs as well participated in comedy sketches.”
“In the UK, Elton’s
AIDS Foundation has also partnered with Red Nose Day to raise awareness and
provide over £5 million to support thousands of children living in extreme
poverty in Africa who have lost their parents to AIDS,” the statement continued. “They have also ensured
that more than 200,000 pregnant moms living with HIV get the medicine they need
to make sure they have HIV-free babies.”
NBC said its Red Nose Day special will include music, comedy and short films about the campaign’s
aims.
Red Nose Day is scheduled to
air Thursday, May 26 at 9 PM EST on NBC.
— Access Hollywood Staff
Copyright © 2024 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.