Britney Spears was so moved by American Idol's "Idol Gives Back" telethon on Wednesday night, she donated $25,000 to the cause.

The pop star forgot about her own troubles for the night and watched the likes of Fergie, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey and Carrie Underwood perform as part of the TV charity fundraiser.

And moving films and appeals made by Annie Lennox, Alicia Keys and Brad Pitt, among others, compelled her to dig deep for children's charities, aid groups and poverty relief.

A Spears insider tells Life & Style magazine, "She watched the show and cried for, like, two hours over the children in Africa with malaria.

"She didn't know much about the disease, so she Googled it. She was horrified to realize kids were dying from mosquito bites. So she went online and donated after getting (her father) Jamie's permission."

Jamie Spears was put in charge of his daughter's finances when he was named the co-conservator of her estate in February.

Meanwhile, Spears and those who donated cash to "Idol Gives Back" raised $22 million overnight. Organizers of the show hope to raise more than $100 million.