Star smiles in bright lights (8)
I believe the answer is:
sunbeams
'bright lights' is the definition.
'sunbeams' can be an answer for 'lights' (sunbeam is a kind of light). I'm unsure of the 'bright' bit.
'star smiles' is the wordplay.
'star' becomes 'sun' (the Sun is a star).
'smiles' becomes 'beams' (beaming is a kind of smiling).
'sun'+'beams'='SUNBEAMS'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sunbeams that I've seen before include "They provide light" , "daylight?" .)