SHARON OSBOURNE - OSBOURNE CREDITS COWELL FOR TEARS IN HEAVEN IDEA

SHARON OSBOURNE and SIMON COWELL have learned to put their petty quarrels behind them for the good of tsunami aid charities.

Osbourne admitted on MTV show TOTAL REQUEST LIVE yesterday (03FEB05) that it was her on-off friend and occasional business partner, Cowell, who helped her put together her star-studded charity version of ERIC CLAPTON's TEARS IN HEAVEN, which will be released next month (MAR05).

She said, "It was actually his idea to come up with Tears In Heaven because we were stuck, thinking, 'Gee, what song would mean something? What song says it all?'

"He came up with this and he helped me put the whole thing together. He's been great."

Osbourne's goal is to help charity groups in tsunami-ravaged south east Asia build orphanages with the proceeds from the single.

During her visit to MTV, Osbourne showed off footage of the stars performing their segments for the single. The video featured GWEN STEFANI harmonising with husband GAVIN ROSSDALE and PINK singing with AEROSMITH's STEVEN TYLER.

And, upon hearing MTV was launching its four-day internet Tsunami Response Auction on the show, generous Osbourne, who had already donated signed guitars offered up the diamond jewellery she was wearing and the opportunity to have lunch with her.

To get the auction moving, she also bid $5,000 (GBP2,631) for artwork created and donated by pop star pal Stefani.