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.”