Tony Bennett proves to be top star at Caesars’ celebration

At Caesars Palace’s 50th anniversary gala on Saturday, Tony Bennett’s voice soared bigger than almost every star who normally performs on the Strip.

Reminder: Bennett is 90. With impeccable volume and control, he put on a how-to-be-a-vocal-legend clinic, sending nearly 3,000 VIPs to their feet for several encores.

It was good Bennett sang with perfection because other powerhouse Caesars Entertainment singers, Mariah Carey and Olivia Newton-John, didn’t attend Caesars’ splashiest event of the year.

Neither did Caesars Entertainment stars Britney Spears and Pitbull.

Considering the gravitas of the event, it was interesting to see which stars took part and which didn’t.

Wayne Newton, with Donny and Marie Osmond, and Matt Goss, combined forces to sing “Viva Las Vegas” while eight booty-revealing showgirls shook their fluffy feathers.

Newton, 74, was in fine voice, choosing to sing quieter with more control than he did at T-Mobile Arena’s spring opening. Goss and Donny and Marie were great.

Bill Medley, another power voice at age 75, sang “Time of My Life” with daughter McKenna, causing dozens of VIPs to dance with abandon beside their seats.

Jennifer Lopez didn’t sing, but she opened the night by taking the stage and expressing gratitude for being part of the family at Planet Hollywood, where, executives report, her show is setting ticket records. Then she had to go perform her show.

Consequently, Lopez has been donating 100 percent of sales of her song “Love Makes the World Go Round” to the Hispanic Federation for the Somos Orlando Fund, with respect to this year’s LGBT nightclub massacre.

While J Lo was on stage, it was announced Caesars was donating a matching $50,000 to the Orlando, Florida, fund.

Rashida Ali gave tribute to her late father, Muhammad Ali. The family of Caesars founder Jay Sarno teared up while honoring the late visionary.

TV chef Gordon Ramsay and Evel Knievel’s son Kelly spoke. And “Absinthe” twins Sean and John Scott tap-danced like maniacs.

Some Caesars stars weren’t on hand but unlike conspicuously absent Britney and Mariah, they cut pre-recorded videos of congratulations; those videos were from Elton John, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Jerry Seinfeld and Reba McEntire.

Even Caesars/Omnia nightclub DJ Calvin Harris, who rarely opens his mouth publicly, appeared long enough for emcee Howie Mandel (who was excellent) to rib Harris over his famous recent breakup with Taylor Swift.

“Who’s your tailor?” Mandel cracked about Harris’ clothes and ex-girlfriend, and when the crowd heard the word “tailor” as “Taylor,” they laughed.

Low-key Harris rolled with it and joked back that Mandel must have had that punch line waiting for him.

The invited-VIP-and-corporate-table crowd chased shrimp cocktails and beef Wellington with wine and champagne.

And ever the game show vet, Mandel gave away prizes. The big one: $50,000.

When he read the winning name, the victorious woman, sitting way back in the cheap seats (if you can call them cheap), rocketed out of her chair, screaming her happy head off.

OBJECT OF BRITISH DESIRE

You think Las Vegas knows how to objectify women? Check out the London Daily Mail’s coverage of model Charlotte McKinney’s Vegas birthday party.

On Saturday, McKinney (who is occasionally naked in top magazines but who dressed conservatively at the Wynn) took her 23rd birthday party of model-esque friends to Encore Beach Club, Andrea’s restaurant and Intrigue nightclub.

No big whoop, right?

“She’s a blonde bombshell known for flashing her cleavage on Instagram,” the Daily Mail exclaims in a presumed four-alarm British accent.

FIT FOR A BARRYMORE

Actress-producer Drew Barrymore came to Vegas with friends on a private plane for a blowout weekend.

They went go-karting, saw the David Copperfield and J Lo shows, ate Thai food at Lotus of Siam, swam in a pool and Instagrammed.

BATCHING IT

Actors from “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor in Paradise” went to Lavo Casino Club in the Palazzo Saturday night: Vinny Vinsane DJ’d there after he shared the one-point meatball, chicken parm and penne alla vodka at Lavo with Alex Woytkiw, JJ Lane, and Christian Bishop.

TRUFFLE COUPLE

Actress Camren Bicondoca (Catwoman on “Gotham”) and voice actor Sean Pertwee (Alfred on “Gotham”) popped into the Palms’ N9NE Steakhouse Saturday, with two friends, for tomato salad, steak, potatoes au gratin, and truffle fries.

ROCK, GOLF, HIP HOP

R&B singer Teddy Riley, UFC star Rampage Jackson and snowboarder Mark McMorris checked out Trey Songz in concert at Drai’s nightclub Saturday.

Actress Vanessa Simmons and model Selita Ebanks partied at Drai’s during Nelly’s Friday show.

“Karate Kid” Cobra Kai actors Billy Zabka, Martin Kove, Rob Garrison and Sean Kanan saw “Rock of Ages” at Rio on Friday.

And golfer Paula Creamer must have crushed balls at Topgolf when she was there Thursday, as was (elsewhere on property) chef Akira Back.

Doug Elfman can be reached at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman. On Twitter: @VegasAnonymous