All The Stars Who Lit Up The Return Of Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Gala

Sometime around midnight last night Clive Davis, master of ceremonies of his famed pre-Grammy GalaGALA
, called out to the crowd gathered at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. “You guys don’t stay up as late as we New Yorkers do,” he said.

He needn’t have worried about anyone nodding off among the mind-blowing crowd of industry leaders, tastemakers and A-list celebrities who’d scored the hottest Grammy Week ticket around.

This year’s guest list included Joni Mitchell, Kevin Costner, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., Lil Nas X, Demi Lovato, Janelle Monae, Paris Hilton, Miranda Lambert, Charlie Puth, Gayle King, Max Martin, Chance the Rapper, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox, Samara Joy, Chloe X Halle, Emilio Estefan, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Stephen Stills, Benny Blanco, members of The Baylor Project, Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire, and Nancy and Paul Pelosi, who garnered the biggest standing ovation of the night.

Not to mention a who’s who of industry tastemakers who were on hand for the event that this year honored Atlantic Music Group Chairman/CEO Julie Greenwald and Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman.

The honorees’ legacy largely determines the musical performances, and that meant a fabulous diversity of artists repping various styles and decades who consistently hit high notes across the board.

From Lizzo, who hard-launched her relationship with Myke Wright on the red carpet, to Maneskin showing why they’re up for Best New Artist to Lauren Diagle to MJ Broadway star Myles Frost doing Michael Jackson proud to a sing-along sparked by Frankie Valli—each act was introduced by Davis, who marked his 90^th birthday this year and was clearly touched to be back in the room for the first time since 2020.

“You’ve all preserved very well” he joked to the audience, adding, “You come back each year, bonded by the love of music.”

Feting the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop were Lil Baby and Lil Wayne, who lit up the stage with five songs including being joined by record producer Swiss Beatz for “Uproar.”

This year marks more than a decade since the death of Davis protégée Whitney Houston the night before the 2012 Grammys. In the most stirring moment of the night, Jennifer Hudson brought down the house with a passionate, powerful performance of Houston’s hit “Greatest Love Of All.”

Kevin Costner also remembered Houston from the stage, recounting his work with Davis to bring her cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” to Costner’s blockbuster 1992 film The Bodyguard.

Speaking directly to Davis, he said, “In the end, neither one of us could save your beloved Whitney. But your fingerprints in the end are clean, Clive. You were a miracle in her life. Thank you for being her bodyguard.”

Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, who passed away November 30, was also remembered in a stirring tribute from Sheryl Crow that included McVie’s signature “Songbird” and “Say You Love Me.”

Cardi B stepped up to present Greenwald and Kallman with their awards. Remembering her early days with Atlantic, she said, “Other labels were low-balling me but Atlantic was right there, respecting me and my vision for my career, and Craig and Julie took me under their wing,” she said.

“When I was in the middle of working on my first album, I was pregnant and I was afraid to tell anyone. I was afraid people would want me to decide between my family and my career because I knew that happened to a lot of artists. But you told me I could do both. Craig held my hand for the entire making of my album.. and we ended up with a No. 1 multiplatinum album, and a Grammy. And Julie, you’re such an inspiration. You are such a boss-ass bitch, and such a wonderful mother. You’re the one who told me I could have it all, and for that I truly thank you.”

Here’s the complete setlist:

Maneskin: “I Want To Be Your Slave,” “Beggin”

Frankie Valli: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”

Lizzo: “Break Up Twice”

Sheryl Crow: “Songbird,” “Say You Love Me”

Jennifer Hudson: “Greatest Love Of All”

Elvis Costello & the Imposters with Juanes: “Pump It Up,” “Peace, Love & Understanding”

Lauren Daigle: “Son Of A Preacher Man”

Latto: “Sunshine,” “Big Energy”

Lil Baby: “Forever,” “California Breeze”

Lil Wayne: “John,” “Lollipop,” “Steady Mobbin,” “Uproar,” “A Mill”

Myles Frost: “Billie Jean,” “Rock With You”