Out & About: Alicia Keys & Swizz Beats – Beyoncé & Jay-Z and more at The 7th Annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball

Even the heavy New York City winds couldn’t dim the star power at Keep a Child Alive’s 7th Annual Black Ball at Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday night (Sept. 30). The star-studded charity gala, which raised money for HIV/AIDS treatment, featured appearances and performances by Sade, Whitney Houston, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Usher, Swizz Beatz, Jennifer Hudson, Janelle Monáe, and more.

The belle of the ball, host Alicia Keys, lived out her dream by singing with Sade. “It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do in my life, to try to pick one song,” revealed the pregnant songstress, who finally decided upon “Love Is Stronger Than Pride.” “I lost sleep over it actually.”

Janelle Monáe gained new fans with her “Tightrope” walking and Swizz Beatz joined Jay-Z for “On to the Next One,” as his pretty in pink wife looked on. Alicia helped Jay cap the evening in their hometown by channeling Frank Sinatra with an impromptu performance of “New York, New York,” before closing with “Empire State of Mind.”

Keep a Child Alive charity brought in a little over $2.4 million for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

Check out some more photos and a few videos from the event below….

Alicia Keys & Sade – Love is Stronger Than Pride – Keep A Child Alive Black Ball 2010.

Sade – Soldier of Love (Keep A Child Alive Black Ball 2010 )

Alicia Keys & Jay-Z Perform Sinatra At annual Black Ball 9-30-10

Source: Rap-Up.com/Global Grind.com

Celebrity News: Spike Lee Speaks Out About Paris Jackson’s Final Goodbye To Her Father Michael Jackson

Spike Lee, who attended Michael Jackson‘s memorial service Tuesday, says watching the late pop star’s 11-year-old daughter Paris take to the stage and talk about her father was brutal.

“How can you even comprehend a young daughter bemoaning the loss of their dear father, their daddy,” says the celebrated film director, 52, who knew Jackson for more than a decade. “We know Michael the entertainer, but to her, that’s just Daddy.”

In 1996, Lee traveled to Brazil to direct Jackson in his music video, They Don’t Care About Us. Lee says he has never known another entertainer with Jackson‘s global appeal.

“I’m not trying to disrespect anybody, Elvis or Frank Sinatra, but what Michael did globally – there wasn’t anybody in the world who did not love Michael Jackson,” says Lee.

At the tribute, Jennifer Hudson might have sung and Smokey Robinson might have praised Jackson‘s talents, but it was Paris‘s tearful moment that held everyone riveted.

“That was raw. Raw emotion,” lauds Lee. “Nobody had a dry eye. That was a killer.”

Source: PEOPLE