The night before music's biggest awards show, the stars descended for a night of glamour and incredible performances at Clive Davis's legendary Pre-Grammy Gala!
This year marked the 51st annual Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons, and it was an evening packed with high-octane glamour and extravagant black-tie style at the iconic Beverly Hilton ballroom. A constellation of stars graced the event, including Pharrell Williams, Martha Stewart, Colman Domingo, John Legend, Teyana Taylor, Lana Del Rey, and the incomparable Stevie Wonder. Their presence was especially welcomed this year, as last year's gala was sadly postponed to allow for crucial relief efforts during the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.
Kicking off the festivities was Gayle King, who shared a special recorded message from former President Barack Obama. He humorously noted, “I always hate to miss a great party, and I know this is one of the best.” He went on to praise Clive Davis as a “force of nature,” highlighting his unparalleled talent for discovering and nurturing groundbreaking artists like Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, and Whitney Houston. Obama emphasized Davis's unique ability to see and hear potential where others couldn't, underscoring his belief that “music can come from anywhere.”
As is tradition, the gala was a stage for epic surprise performances. This year was no exception! Machine Gun Kelly (mgk) and Jelly Roll took the stage to deliver a moving tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne. After their rendition of "Mama I'm Coming Home," Jelly Roll addressed Osbourne's wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack in the audience, bidding a heartfelt farewell to the “Prince of Darkness,” acknowledging him as a “great husband, a great father, and a great musician.”
But here's where it gets really exciting... The performances kept coming! Jennifer Hudson captivated the audience with her rendition of Roberta Flack's timeless classic, "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." John Legend joined the hip-hop duo Clipse for a performance of "The Birds Don't Sing." And in a delightful collaboration, Darren Criss teamed up with Laufey for a spirited duet of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," a special salute to lyricist Bernie Taupin. The country duo Dan + Shay performed a medley of "Mrs. Robinson" and "All I Know" in honor of Art Garfunkel, who later graced the stage himself to perform his legendary track, "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
And this is the part most people miss... The most electrifying performance of the night belonged to the recent Golden Globe winners EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the incredible trio behind the song "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters. Their performance had the entire crowd on their feet, dancing and singing along – even the legendary Jeff Goldblum was spotted swaying to the infectious beat! With five Grammy nominations this year, "Golden" is a strong contender for Song of the Year. It's truly remarkable, as a song from an animated film hasn't received both a Grammy and Oscar nod since Disney's "Circle of Life" from The Lion King back in 1995.
EJAE, one of the co-writers of the record-breaking hit, shared their astonishment with Vogue: “I still can’t believe we are nominated. It’s surreal.” They continued, expressing a powerful sentiment: “If we win, the award is more than just for me—it’s representation. I want to open doors for Korean-Americans and Korean women in the music scene. You don’t see many of us.” They also shared a heartwarming anecdote about Emily Blunt, whose kids had a "KPop Demon Hunters" birthday party, and expressed their joy when celebrities share their love for the movie and the song.
Adding to the night's star power, three Best New Artist nominees also took to the stage. Olivia Dean delivered a soulful performance of her chart-topper "Man I Need," Alex Warren poured his heart out with his emotionally charged song "Ordinary," and Sombr thrilled the audience with his viral hit "12 to 12." Sombr, sporting his signature glam-rock-inspired attire, shared his fashion philosophy: “My fashion motto is, ‘Would Mick Jagger wear it?’ And if the answer is yes, then I’ll wear it.” He also credited his stylist, Brandon Tan, as a great collaborator and hinted at more dazzling looks to come, promising, “You’re in for a treat.”
Amidst delicious plates of roast chicken and mashed potatoes, guests mingled and reconnected. Pharrell Williams was seen chatting with Shaboozey and Sombr, before joining Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. Nearby, Teyana Taylor shared a hearty laugh with Stevie Wonder. Heidi Klum was spotted crouching down to chat with Demi Lovato and her husband Jordan Lutes. Over at another table, Lizzo and Jennifer Hudson posed for photos, while Jack Antonoff engaged in conversation with Lana Del Rey.
During the gala, Clive Davis also gave a special shout-out to journalist Don Lemon, who was in attendance following his release after an arrest while covering an anti-ICE protest. Lemon received a well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd. Stevie Wonder also garnered loud applause as he acknowledged the evening’s honorees, Monte and Avery Lipman, the visionary brothers behind Republic Records.
As the clock struck midnight, the lights brightened, and guests began to depart the Beverly Hilton, likely eager to get some rest before another exciting evening of music and celebrations on Sunday.
What did you think of the performances? Do you agree that representation in music is crucial? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
