A massive cloud of stardust made its annual descent on the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, as the entertainment-industry elite gathered for the annual pre-Grammy party hosted by music mogul Clive Davis. Now officially sanctioned by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and dubbed the "Salute to Industry Icons," the bash remains an elite affair, an evening of A-list artists performing for their peers.

Major acts including the Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood rolled out their hits and very few surprises during the three-hour-long program. An omnibus of celebrities milled about the ballroom, Jane Fonda as well as Jay-Z and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who busted some slick moves while Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas performed “Smooth.”

There was the lingering scent of scandal, a match snuffed out: Rihanna attended, returning to the site where her troubles with former boyfriend and assailant Chris Brown began last year. She seemed resolute and relaxed strutting around in an ornithological dress by Viktor and Rolf, and palling around with It Couple Katy Perry and Russell Brand. Her contemporaries were present, including Keri Hilson and Taylor Swift, as were her elders, such as Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock. She quietly, if showily, fit in.

It was another official Night to Remember. Yet despite a showstopping appearance by Mary J. Blige and other performances of note from Harry Connick, Jr. and Maxwell, the event didn’t hold its audience. Many famous faces exited just before midnight; by the time Jamie Foxx came out to close the show less than an hour later, the venue was perhaps one-third full.

The rapid loss of heat affected the impact of what was happening onstage. Hudson’s heartfelt two-song tribute to Barbra Streisand (who stayed to witness the honor) didn’t bring down the house the way her post-“Dreamgirls” appearance had a few years previous. Thomas and Santana were lively, but the empty seats before them suggested the fading moments of a wedding reception.

Why did this happen? There were other parties to attend, for one thing. The Roots and Ne-Yo both hosted late-starting events; in fact, the R&B crooner was part of that big-name exodus.