LOS ANGELES -- The People's Choice Awards took over downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night, and the red carpet was packed with such wide-ranging stars as Sandra Bullock, Mary J. Blige and Jackie Chan. Before the festivities kicked off inside, the big names from the last 12 months looked forward to kicking off the 2010 entertainment year in style.

"It's amazing, and it's People's Choice, so it's good to know that the fans voted for you," gushed singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat, nominated for Favorite Music Collaboration for her duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky." "Jason and I, we have the same style of music, so I think [our fanbases] were combined already. But getting the chance to work with him, travel around the world and perform all over and seeing people's reactions to it, hearing that it's everyone's wedding song? That's very exciting, and kind of surreal."

"In 2010, I really hope the whole world [finds] peace," a noticeably moved Jackie Chan told us when asked about his expectations for the new year. "No more war, no more natural disasters -- I hope everything is fine. There are so many things going on, so many people who've been killed by natural disasters -- I hope everything will be fine. No more war."

In times of trouble, however, people often look to entertainment for escape. And during a tumultuous 2009, such desires made overnight sensations of folks like "Paranormal Activity" stars Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat.

"A year ago, I think I was watching the People's Choice Awards [on TV] in my living room," laughed Featherston, marveling over the wild ride of the past few months. Discussing the film, which was shot for a mere $15,000 and earned $107 million, Sloat said he was still amazed by such glitzy awards shows and that with the catering budget alone, "We could make several movies!"

A bit more experienced in the ways of Hollywood is veteran actress Diane Kruger, who alongside Eli Roth walked down the red carpet and will spend the next few months strolling down many more thanks to "Inglourious Basterds" building awards-season supremacy. "This is my first time [at the People's Choice Awards]; there are a lot of people, it's very loud."

And of course, after every great awards show is a great afterparty, and with notorious "Basterds" like Roth and Quentin Tarantino alongside her every night, Kruger said all she can do is hope to keep up. "Every once in a while [I'll party with them]," she said. "The thing is, when you go out one night, that puts you down for a month; you have to recover. But they can go every night."

"It feels amazing to be here," Paramore's Hayley Williams told us, looking up and down the carpet moments before going inside to vie for a Favorite Rock Band award. "I love this awards show, and I feel really honored to be here.

"I'm not getting nervous as much," the 21-year-old beauty said of her awards-show composure as she heads into her sixth year with the band. "I get anxious, because I'm definitely not used to [getting nominated for things]. And I don't think I ever want to get used to it."