Pregnant Alicia Keys dazzles at Keep A Child Alive benefit... while the other guests are blown away

With only one month to go, pregnant Alicia Keys could be forgiven for wanting to stay home and put her feet up.

But the passionate star was dressed to the nines last night to host the annual Black Ball for her charity Keep A Child Alive in New York.

This year A-listers such as Whitney Houston, Sade, Beyonce and husband Jay-Z, Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson, and Jennifer Hudson braved the high winds to raise funds for HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.
Beautiful: Pregnant Alicia Keys looked gorgeous and in love on the red carpet at the Keep A Child Alive Black Ball with new husband Swizz Beatz
Beautiful: Pregnant Alicia Keys looked gorgeous and in love on the red carpet at the Keep A Child Alive Black Ball with new husband Swizz Beatz
Beautiful: Pregnant Alicia Keys looked gorgeous and in love on the red carpet at the Keep A Child Alive Black Ball with new husband Swizz Beatz
The 29-year-old dazzled in a strapless grey lace Dolce & Gabbana gown with her hair elegantly swept up. She kept her footwear sensible though, in a pair of glittering flat sandals.
Alicia radiated happiness as she posed on the red carpet with husband Swizz Beatz, who she married in August in France.

Her rapper husband, real name Kaseem Dean, affectionately rubbed her baby bump and gazed at the Empire State of Mind singer.

Above: Whitney and J-Hud embrace

Hot competition: Swizz Beatz may want to watch out for charmer Usher, who flirted with a blushing Alicia for the cameras
Hot competition: Swizz Beatz may want to watch out for charmer Usher, who flirted with a blushing Alicia for the cameras
But he may want to watch out for notorious charmer Usher, who also sezied his chance to pose with the beautiful mother-to-be. The singer flirted and kissed a blushing Alicia, who looked thrilled by the extra attention.

And while Alicia looked picture perfect on the red carpet, her big name attendees did not manage the same dignified entrance.

Celebrities like Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson, actress Jane Krakowski, Whitney Houston and Sade almost got blown away by the incredible 50mph winds, that left them struggling to keep their hair and couture downs in place.

Above: Whitney Houston looking like she did in 1993.

Blown away: The rest of the guests, including Jane Krakowski (l), Whitney Houston (m) and Sade (r) struggled with the high winds on the red carpet
Blown away: The rest of the guests, including Jane Krakowski (l) and Sade (r) struggled with the high winds on the red carpet
Blown away: The rest of the guests, including Jane Krakowski (l) and Sade (r) struggled with the 50mph winds on the red carpet
Look at me! Whitney Houston and couple Arpad Busson and Uma Thurman looked excited to be at the event, despite the weather
Power players: Whitney Houston and couple Arpad Busson and Uma Thurman looked excited to be at the event, despite the weather
Power players: Whitney Houston and couple Arpad Busson and Uma Thurman looked excited to be at the event, despite the weather
Uma wore an unflattering burgundy gown with sequinned jacket and flat sandals, while Whitney Houston kept it simple in a chic black cocktail dress.

Sade, who rarely attends public events, wore a striking white floor-length dress with a slashed neckline and slits. She performed at the ball, along with Alicia, who took to the stage to duet with Jay-Z.

Miss Keys announced ahead of this year's event that she aimed to raise $1 million. She founded the organisation in 2003 with agent and activist Leigh Blake, and acts as Global Ambassador.
The pair has raised $20 million toward funding anti-retroviral drugs and other treatments, clinics and orphan care in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and most recently, in India.
Drab and glam: Uma's bizarre red carpet poses didn't help her unflattering outfit, while Beyonce showed her how its done in an eye-popping pink gown
Drab and glam: Uma's bizarre red carpet poses didn't help her unflattering outfit, while Beyonce showed her how its done in an eye-popping pink gown
Drab and glam: Uma's bizarre red carpet poses didn't help her unflattering outfit, while Beyonce showed her how its done in an eye-popping pink gown
Charitable: Pregnant Alicia caught up with pals Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson and while Beyonce stuck close to husband Jay-Z at the dinner in the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York
Charitable: Pregnant Alicia caught up with pals Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson and while Beyonce stuck close to husband Jay-Z at the dinner in the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York
Star power: Alicia caught up with pals Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson and while Beyonce stuck close to husband Jay-Z at the dinner in the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York
The platinum-selling artist revealed the charity's next campaign, 'Buy Life' will recruit stars such as Lady Gaga, Katie Holmes, Justin Timberlake and Kanye West to take part in an advertising campaign that will feature in magazines, bus stops and the Internet.

Her celebrity friends will model T-shirts with an imprinted barcode that smart-phone users will be able to scan from the ads and automatically donate to the charity.

'The whole idea is that if you're spending $100 on a pair of shoes or everything else we spend money on that we don't really need, why not use the money to save a life instead?' Keys said this week.

'We can completely redefine the ultimate symbol of consumerism. Life is precious, we want to fashion it as the must-have purchase of the season, the one item that no one can be without.'
Don't strain yourself: Alicia and Jay-Z provided the entertainment, though Jay-Z looked concerned that Keys might go into labour when hitting the high notesDon't strain yourself: Alicia and Jay-Z provided the entertainment, though Jay-Z looked concerned that Keys might go into labour when hitting the high notes

Check out 24 photos plus video from the unforgettable night below.


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