By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph hosted her 18^th "Divas Simply Singing" benefit at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. this past weekend.

The annual event is a special evening of entertainment used to raise funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS, a crusade that the former 'Moesha' star is quite passionate about.

This was my first year attending "Divas Simply Singing" and it was quite spectacular. They raised well over $150,000.00 this year alone.

How's this for a lineup?

Patti LaBelle, Angie Stone, Rachelle Ferrell, Coko of SWV, Raven-Symone, Patti Austin, actress Loretta Devine and Lalah Hathaway were some of the divas who shared in song.

There were also performances by Miki Howard, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Sarah Dash of LaBelle, Leigh Jones, Alicia Meyers, Roslyn Kind, Siedah Garrett, Sherri Lewis and actress Ellia English.

Each year, Ralph has an honorary "devo" take the stage. This year she had three.

Kenny Lattimore, gospel singer Donald Lawrence and newcomer Von Smith -- a younger white singer who has become a YouTube sensation because he sings 'Dreamgirls' songs like a big black woman -- graced the stage as well.

Hollywood funny woman Kym Whitley opened the show and had the crowd in stitches with her comedic monologue. Throughout the rest of the show she occasionally interrupted Ralph's act with some comedic bits the way "Divas" regular Jenifer Lewis has done in the past.

Lewis appeared this year in a prerecorded video presentation from Europe where she was working.

"I can't be there this year because I am here working. But I'll be back on Nov. 4 to vote. I won't tell you who to vote for," the 'Jackie's Back' star said before holding up a Barack Obama campaign sign. "But you know what to do."

Ralph, a proud Democrat who is married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes, couldn't be as vocal about her pro-Barack Obama stance as she had been on the campaign trail because "Divas Simply Singing" has 501c3 tax-exempt status.

Though remaining bipartisan throughout the show, Ralph's message was clear during a parody of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin when an actress with a striking likeness to the Republican Vice Presidential pick came onstage with a Barack Obama pin on her suit.

"Why are you wearing an Obama pin?" the original 'Dreamgirl' probed while the crowd laughed.

The pretend Palin replied: "Alaskans like chocolate too!"

Ralph's son Etienne Maurice will be joining the third season of BET's 'Baldwin Hills' and his fellow cast members were on-hand shooting during "Divas" as well.

Back to the singing, it was LaBelle that brought the house down with her three-song set.

The veteran diva was scheduled to close the show with two songs, but told the crowd: "I was supposed to do two, but I'mma do three!"

Her set included 'You Are My Friend,' 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' and 'The Lord's Prayer.'

My other favorite performances that night were by Austin, Coko, Ferrell and Hathaway.

Among those spotted in the crowd throughout the night were actress LisaRaye McCoy, reality TV star Omarosa, 'Extra' host Tanika Ray, singer Freda Payne, 'American Idol' finalist Trenyce, Judge Mablean Ephriam, film director Maurice Jamal, TV host Rolonda Watts, singer Norwood Young, designer Angela Dean and radio/TV host Wendell James.

Overall the event was a huge success and I'll definitely be attending "Divas Simply Singing" again in the future.

To learn more about the benefit, visit www.divassimplysinging.com.