CNN Heroes Backstage live blog

Part of complete coverage on

CNN Heroes Backstage live blog

The top 10 CNN Heroes of the year were honored December 2 during a star-studded gala at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. See how the night unfolded, from the red carpet arrivals to the much-anticipated announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year.

Blog curated by Steve Krakauer, Kyle Almond and Dorrine Mendoza, with help from JD Cargill on the red carpet.

2011 CNN Hero Taryn Davis (@americanwp) is taking YOU backstage for a sneak peek at TONIGHT's @CNNHeroes Tribute show. http://on.cnn.com/Ua5x04

by CNN Heroes via twitter 12/2/2012 10:05:14 PM
Amazing time lapse video for the show tonight!... http://fb.me/YKKTGbJt

by PhoenixMS via twitter 12/2/2012 10:06:04 PM
If you want to be inspired watch #CNNHeroes tonight at 9pm est. we honor amazing people and name the CNN hero of the year.

by Anderson Cooper via twitter 12/2/2012 10:13:49 PM
Early @CNNHeroes prediction: you will have the song @NeYoCompound sings stuck in your head for a while. #CNNHeroes live 9pmET

by Steve Krakauer, CNN via twitter 12/2/2012 10:20:07 PM
The guys getting ready for the big night #cnnheroes #phoenixmultisport instagr.am/p/SwDW3NpB15/

by ScottAStrode via twitter 12/2/2012 10:35:19 PM
Thrilled to be a part of @CNNHeroes tonight at 9 EST. The very, very best humanity has to offer: http://bit.ly/SqbKI7

by rainnwilson via twitter 12/2/2012 10:51:35 PM
Hair and makeup time #CNNHEROS pbs.twimg.com/media/A9JP4GDCAAAWYRH.jpg

by OFP via twitter 12/2/2012 10:54:55 PM
RT @DavidSpade: Im on CNN heroes tonight. Dont worry I'm not one of the heroes. Just a presenter. Always a heroes maid never a hero

by CNN Heroes via twitter 12/2/2012 10:57:37 PM
RT @StarringRico: I'm excited to be a presenter tonight @CNNHeroes: An All-Star Tribute hosted by @andersoncooper! Tune in at 9p/6p ET! ...

by CNN Heroes via twitter 12/2/2012 10:58:21 PM
Been live at the Shrine Auditorium all day prepping 4 @CNNHeroes 2nite! Such a fantastic inspirational show! Tune in 9pm est @CNN #CNNHeroes

by Nischelle Turner via twitter 12/2/2012 11:16:13 PM
Neyo @NeYoCompound warms up for his performance for #CNNHeroes

Image taken December 1 by Adrienne Leigh, Project Manager at CNN
by dorrine.mendoza on Dec 2, 2012 at 6:16 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/2/2012 11:19:07 PM
RT @WrightvWrong: Sounds good :)

@CNNHeroes: SUNDAY @SusanSarandon, @MirandaCosgrove, @JaneMarieLynch & more will be paying tribut ...

by Jane Lynch via twitter 12/2/2012 11:21:51 PM
Going to the @CNNheroes tribute tonight. It's airing live at 6pst/9est. Watch & celebrate ppl single-handedly changing the world.

by janinaz via twitter 12/2/2012 11:25:34 PM
Can't wait,, kiddo! RT @TheLaurenPotter: @janemarielynch @CNNHeroes see you there!

by Jane Lynch via twitter 12/2/2012 11:26:29 PM
RT @LovingNaya: I just voted for @JaneMarieLynch #comedictvactress #PeoplesChoice. Retweet to vote http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/votenow.jsp via @peopleschoice

by Jane Lynch via twitter 12/2/2012 11:27:20 PM
These are the types of people I truly admire and respect.. This is what it truly means to be successful. #CNNHEROES
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/02/world/cnnheroes-show/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

by pranishka via twitter 12/2/2012 11:32:56 PM
excited to be tonight on @CNNHeroes An All-Star TRIBUTE with @AndersonCooper.tune in as we honor inspirational heroes.

by 50cent via twitter 12/2/2012 11:36:05 PM
Red carpet, real heroes, incredible stories. Here we go... #cnnheroes instagr.am/p/SwKkSmgfNt/

by Elizabeth Carter via twitter 12/2/2012 11:36:35 PM
CNN Heroes Rocks :) Excited Gaurav KandelDec 2, 2012 at 6:41 PM

@CNNHeroes Rocks WAITING for the most amazing time ahead :)viewyourchoiceDec 2, 2012 at 6:42 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/2/2012 11:43:08 PM
Just hours away from the sixth annual @CNNHeroes: An All-Star Tribute. Be sure to watch at 9pmET. instagr.am/p/Sv1e30LplJ/

by CNN Heroes via twitter edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/2/2012 11:43:46 PM
Yeeha!!!RT @DelShores: Thanks for the help! Just hit 80K of 100K goal 4 our SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES campaign! http://tinyurl.com/c7kmkcw

by Jane Lynch via twitter 12/2/2012 11:44:11 PM
The view down the #CNNHeroes red carpet. p.twimg.com/A9JfG9jCEAAEzot.jpg

by CNN Heroes via twitter 12/2/2012 11:52:57 PM
As usual, we've got a lot of star power joining CNN tonight to honor these Heroes.

We've got movie stars: Susan Sarandon, Maria Bello, Harvey Keitel (Mr. Wolf!), Viola Davis and Josh Duhamel.

We've got TV stars: Rainn Wilson, Jane Lynch, David Spade, Rico Rodriguez, Miranda Cosgrove.

We've got an Olympic gold medal swimmer (Cullen Jones) and a NASCAR legend (Jeff Gordon).

And then we've got two ridiculously talented musicians performing in Ne-Yo and "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips. Should be a fun night.

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/2/2012 11:56:03 PM
Ever wonder what it's like to be on stage at one of these big award shows? Take a look with this awesome panorama from the Shrine Auditorium. (Just imagine the seats are full.)

Courtesy: Michael Buckner/Wireimage

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:09:56 AM
At the red carpet #cnnheroes pbs.twimg.com/media/A9JlP0gCcAAxkUG.jpg

by OFP via twitter 12/3/2012 12:23:37 AM
Actress Holly Robinson Peete was just interviewed on the red carpet by CNN's Nischelle Turner. She called herself a CNN Heroes "groupie."

"The Heroes are walking past, and I'm just starstruck," Robinson Peete said.

The top 10 just made their way to the red carpet together. Picture coming up.

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:26:10 AM
The 2012 Top Ten have arrived #CNNHeroes p.twimg.com/A9JnHMkCYAAtV4V.jpg

by CNN Heroes via twitter 12/3/2012 12:27:55 AM
CNN's JD Cargill and Steve Krakauer are taking live video from the red carpet prior to the show.

by CNN Backstage edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:36:57 AM
Need a refresher course on the top 10 Heroes, who they are and what they stand for? Check out this photo gallery.

For making the top 10, each of these Heroes get $50,000 to continue their extraordinary work. An additional $250,000 will go to the Hero of the Year, who is announced at the end of the show.

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:38:39 AM
Actress Holly Robinson Peete and her kids are ready for the show!

by CNN Backstage edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:39:20 AM
Dr. Drew's got a challenge for you.

by CNN Backstage edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:42:17 AM
The red carpet: Bringing fans and celebrities together.

by CNN Backstage edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:46:48 AM
This is the sixth year of CNN Heroes. More than 180 CNN Heroes have been profiled on CNN, from more than 45,000 nominations submitted from around the world. That's some elite company right there.

Do you know somebody who should be a Hero? Nominate them for 2013!

by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 12:48:42 AM
Actress Jane Lynch is excited for her first-ever CNN Heroes show. She'll be presenting during the event.

by CNN Backstage edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 1:00:35 AM
AC is here!

by CNN Backstage edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 1:04:08 AM
Anderson Cooper just stopped by the social suite, giving a little preview of what's to come when he hosts CNN Heroes - live in just under an hour.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 1:06:08 AM
Fancy! #cnnheroes @phoenixms staff pbs.twimg.com/media/A9JvaA5CEAAdS8D.jpg

by PhoenixMS via twitter 12/3/2012 1:08:01 AM
Red carpet with 2012 @CNNHeroes instagr.am/p/SwTJ0WtUe-/

by LeinzCNN via twitter 12/3/2012 1:08:17 AM
So exited to be @CNN heroes!! @pay_it_forward #sagawards #cnnheroes

by KliptownYouthProgram via twitter 12/3/2012 1:08:35 AM
Honored to be a presenter at #CNNHeroes All-Star Tribute TONIGHT. Tune in at 9pmET/6pmPT on #CNN to see who'll win 2012 Hero of the Year!"

by Josh Duhamel via twitter 12/3/2012 1:13:14 AM
Rainn Wilson doing a live shot on CNN. Gotta love that guy.

by CNN Backstage edited by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 1:19:48 AM
That behind-the-scenes video came while the pre-show was on the air on CNN TV. Check out the rest of the pre-show, with Ben Stiller, Ne-Yo and more, now on CNN.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 1:23:08 AM
Miranda Cosgrove on the red carpet.

by CNN Backstage edited by Kyle Almond, CNN 12/3/2012 1:25:50 AM
Right now on CNN: Ne-Yo talks to AJ Hammer about giving back. Here's some giving back Ne-Yo did recently.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 12/3/2012 1:26:00 AM
Photo of @NeYoCompound practicing on Saturday night. Image by @AprilCNNPR
by dorrine.mendoza on Dec 2, 2012 at 7:24 PM

by dorrine.mendoza 12/3/2012 1:27:26 AM