By Laura Saltman

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

“High School Musical” star Ashley Tisdale pays a visit to a deserving family in this Sunday’s episode of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” The teen (and tween) favorite is the next celebrity to take part in the show’s “Get On The Bus” program, for which stars volunteer to take part in the home building process.

Ashley traveled to Green County, Missouri to help the Hampton family move out of their 800 square foot cramped cottage, where eight of them had been living together after the parents graciously agreed to take in their four nieces and nephews rather than let them go to foster care.

“When I saw the family and the reaction to the house I just, like, started tearing up,” she admitted. “It’s like this really great deserving family and then also you see like all these volunteers and their family members and their friends just all getting together helping them. It’s just such a great feeling to be part of that.”

Ashley said she was thrilled when she got the call to come on the show because she watches it with her family every Sunday night. Plus, she’s got a leg up on some of the other celebrities who have participated in the show as her dad, Mike, is in the construction business. He tagged along as well, making this the first time she and her dad have worked together in front of the camera, “We definitely had some bonding and some squabbles,” she giggled. “He would be like, ‘No, do it this way,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, I’m gonna do it this way!’”

Of course, they worked it out, and in the end Ashley got very hands-on in the home building process. “I helped out a lot around the house. I did the floors in the entryway. I did a little of the designing of Hannah’s room, which is the little girl who was super excited to meet me. I also worked a little bit on the chicken coop in the back and the barn house as well.”

Ashley herself moved into her own new home recently, which, not surprisingly, was built by her dad - with an eco-friendly flare. “We went green. We did solar panels. We recycled the windows and the cabinets. It’s an amazing house. It’s done. It’s beautiful. It’s really great. I love it.”

Fortunately, for this 24-year-old, her dad is never far away. “He still comes over every morning because they still have little things, putting in stuff. They are down the street from my house. It’s not like they are far!”

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” airs Sunday nights on ABC.

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter now!