Leading performers (5)
I believe the answer is:
stars
'leading performers' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for stars that I've seen before include "plays a leading role" , "Horoscope (colloq.)" , "Celestial bodies of hot gases" , "''What is the ...? What is the ...? '' (Juno and the Paycock)" , "Leading actors" .)