Clive Davis, famed music mogul, was honored at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards Salute To Icons tribute event which was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel last night and managed to bring out some of the biggest names in music to honor and party with him. Surrounded by his peers and his discoveries, Davis was sittin’ pretty as the night unfolded. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:

A stunning-looking and strong-sounding Whitney Houston made a triumphant return to the stage at a pre-Grammy party honoring her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis. “I’ve got it, I’ve got it!” Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early Sunday morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, “I’m Every Woman.” But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar — whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago — was back in top form … Houston’s mini-concert put an exclamation point on a night that included a rousing performance by Kelly Clarkson, an unlikely but magical duet between Jennifer Hudson and Barry Manilow and a rambling monologue by Kanye West. “I have to bow in the presence of greats right now,” West said as he looked out into the crowd, which at one point included Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, Diddy, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Quincy Jones, and other luminaries. “I’m just humbled by your greatness, and also Clive,” West told the audience. Davis, the music mogul who founded labels, signed greats ranging from Houston to Bruce Springsteen to Janis Joplin, and resuscitated the careers of veterans like Rod Stewart and Carlos Santana, was honored by the Recording Academy as an industry icon on Saturday, hours before Sunday’s Grammys. For nearly three decades, Davis’ pre-Grammy party and concert had become one of the industry’s most coveted invites; this year, the Recording Academy took the event over and honored Davis instead. But while Davis got an award, he still held court like it was his own party, acting as the evening’s host as he introduced performers like Stewart, the Kings of Leon and Leona Lewis. Diddy got the often staid crowd on their feet with a moving rendition of his tribute to the slain Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You,” with Biggie’s widow, singer Faith Evans, and a gospel choir. Clarkson got one of the evening’s biggest ovations with her performance of her new single, “My Life Would Suck Without You” and the Joplin gem “Piece of My Heart.” But Hudson was perhaps the night’s biggest star — until Houston hit the stage. Starting with the Super Bowl last Sunday, Hudson has been raising her profile after spending months in seclusion following the slayings of her mother, brother and nephew last October. A smiling Houston performed her hit “Spotlight,” which earned her one of her four Grammy nominations, and got a standing ovation from the crowd. But she raised the bar with a pairing with Barry Manilow, injecting one of his signature songs, “Weekend in New England,” with a lacking ingredient — soul. Afterward, the Oscar-winner joined the audience (and friend Fantasia), stood in the front and danced and sang as Houston performed. Houston started off with “I Will Always Love You,” but didn’t hit the high, sustaining notes that made the song such a dramatic, stirring hit. Instead, she kept her voice at medium power, deciding to croon rather than soar. But as she got into hits like “It’s Not Right, But It’s O.K.,” her voice appeared to get stronger — and louder, and while she never replicated the vocal gymnastics of some of her past work, delivered a mesmerizing performance nonetheless. The 45-year-old, one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, hasn’t made an album since 2002. Then she was was sinking due to drug use and a tumultuous personal life — a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980s. But the singer is expected to release an album sometime this year, and unlike other reported returns, this comeback seems to be the real deal. “She was on it, she was happy — she’s back,” said Foxx. “Everybody else watch out.”

This Grammy Awards Salute to Icons affair sounded like a night to remember. I cannot even fathom what it must be like to be in presence of so much talent all in one room. The fact that even Kanye West was humbled, well, that should tell you something. After the jump, check out a bunch of photos that range from the performance stage to the interaction in the audience …

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Rihanna and Chris Brown have been spotted sportin’ some matching new ink on their hands recently and it was speculated that the tats, while identical, were only temporary. Well, according to Ri Ri herself, the tattoos are permanent tribal designs that ChRihanna got done in New Zealand and represent strength and love … interesting, no?

Got ink? Rihanna certainly does. The singer showed off a new tattoo on her right wrist Wednesday, as she chatted with reporters at a UNICEF event. “It’s tribal,” she said at the charity’s annual Snowflake Lighting Ceremony in New York’s Grand Army Plaza. “It represents strength and love.” Rihanna also revealed that she got the exotic-looking tat while in New Zealand for a recent tour date. “It’s their traditional way of tattooing,” she said of the Maori-inspired geometric design. “I always wanted [one].” But even for a tattoo enthusiast like Rihanna, this particular method had one big drawback: “It hurt like hell!” The “Disturbia” singer has a number of other tats – including a cluster of stars on her neck. (Boyfriend Chris Brown has a matching set.)

Yes, boyfriend Chris Brown does have a matching set of star tattoos … and now ChRihanna also have matching tribal tattoos as well. Some people just give each other promise rings, these two seem happy to make their commitment to one another more permanent. I really hope these two do stay together forever cuz getting matching tattoos seems a pretty big step. How long ’til they tattoo their names on one another?

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A new fan-recorded video has made its way to the Internets that appears to show Rihanna fainting while on stage with Chris Brown during a concert in Sydney, Australia this week. Because the video is choppy and not very clear, it’s not entirely clear just what happened to Rihanna during this incident but her spokespeople are saying that she did not faint, that she is “fine” and will be ready to perform at future shows. Here is the video in question, so that you can judge for yourself and info provided by Rihanna’s people explaining what they say happened:

Rihanna may have had a rough night Down Under on Thursday, but contrary to other online reports, she didn’t faint on stage, Access Hollywood has learned. The pop star clutched her stomach while running off stage during a performance of “Umbrella” in Australia in footage posted on YouTube, and was rumored to have passed out shortly after. “It was very hot at the venue, so after Rihanna’s set was over, she went off stage and needed to sit down, catch her breath and have some water,” a rep for the star said in a statement to Access. “She is perfectly healthy and will be at her show tomorrow.” The star was joined on “Umbrella” by boyfriend Chris Brown, who finished the song solo after Rihanna left the stage.

I’m not sure if it really matters if the girl fainted, was dehydrated or simply wanted to sit her ass down … homegirl has been working like a mad woman for months now. I don’t blame Miss Ri Ri if she decided to say, “Later, bitches … I’m gonna take a nap right now” after all the hard work she’s being doing since she hit it big with her song Umbrella last year. I hope she did get rehydrated or unfaited or whatever and gets some rest. I got a soft spot in my heart for the little Miss … I don’t want her gettin’ ill or nothin’.

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Here are a few photos of secret lovebirds Rihanna and Chris Brown feeding their fast food addiction at their fave restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken. Clearly, the couple didn’t want to be spotted together but it remains unclear whether they were trying to keep their secret loveaffair from being detected or if they were just embarrassed that they got papped at KFC again:

You know what, I ain’t even gonna front … I can appreciate these two’s lurve for KFC … they got the bomb popcorn chicken and those potato wedges? MMM MMM. That’s some good stuff right there. Sometimes I’m in the mood for their mash potatoes and gravy and I dip the popcorn chicken in the gravy … yeah man, that shizz is the bomb. I actually can’t even hate on Chris and Ri Ri for spending so much time at KFC … in fact, I think I know what I’m having for lunch today. Mebbe I’ll see them there.

[Photo credit: X17]

Celebs and musicians of all sorts made their way out to Radio City Music Hall in NYC last night to be a part of Conde Nast Media Group’s 5th Anniversary Fashion Rocks concert event, which seeks to honor and celebrate the convergence of music and fashion. Here are a few pics from the Fashion Rocks red carpet arrivals:

Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus and Charlize Theron were among the celebrities who appeared at the fifth annual Fashion Rocks concert celebrating the relationship between music and fashion. They walked the red carpet Friday night at Radio City Music Hall amid a media circus angling for glamour shots of other stars including Fergie, Rihanna, Chris Brown and the “Gossip Girl” gang. Brown, the R&B heartthrob, soaked up all the attention with a smile as he showed off his dapper ensemble of a black vest and shirt, gray pants, shiny shoes and diamond stud earrings. “To be a musician and a great entertainer, you have to be a trendsetter. To be a trendsetter, you have to know fashion — and I have fun with it,” explained the singer, who later changed into khakis and a black shirt and scarf for a performance of his hit song “Forever.” The event will air Tuesday in a two-hour special on CBS. Proceeds will benefit Stand Up To Cancer, a program established by the Entertainment Industry Foundation to raise money for cancer research. Stand Up To Cancer held a live telethon that aired simultaneously on ABC, NBC and CBS on Friday night … Other performers included Timberlake, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Duffy, the Pussycat Dolls and the Black Eyed Peas. A highlight was Timberlake and Beyonce’s sizzling duet of “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” which channeled the soulful sound of the classic song’s original singers, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Stars mingled and sipped cocktails backstage in the green room, where Leighton Meester of the CW teen drama “Gossip Girl” and her actor-beau Sebastian Stan hung out before she introduced Duffy’s performance of “Mercy.” Meester’s “Gossip” co-star Chace Crawford chatted up actress Hayden Panettiere, who embraced her rock-star side in a silver Ferragamo minidress and black heels. “I usually try to mix class and then really funk it out,” Panettiere said of her personal style. “It’s rock meets class. I try — not always succeed, but I try.”

Wow, this really does sound like a star-studded event … I can’t wait to check it out when it airs on Tuesday night. I understand there were some very cool performances, including one from Rihanna that I will be talking about in a bit. After the jump, check out some pics of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Kid Rock and others as they took to the stage last night …

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Here are a few cute pics sent in by Pink reader Sarah, taken by her friend Blanton, from a recent run-in they had with Rihanna and Chris Brown at a shopping center in Richmond, VA this week:

Sarah writes: I was at Short Pump Town Center (Richmond, VA) yesterday and guess who were there? Chris Brown and Rihanna! They were super cute and holding hands. They also spent a lot of time in the jewelry store so I’m pretty sure he bought her something … you know, because he can.

Awww love it. I suppose it’s possible that Chris bought Ri Ri a ring — a friendship ring, that is. They’re the cutest and seem very cool to take the time to say hello to their fans. Much love goes out to Sarah for sharing the photos.

[thanks Sarah and Blanton]

Best buds (or so they’d like us to believe) Rihanna and Chris Brown have jetted down to Ri Ri’s native home of Barbados for a little bit o’ vacay action … here are a few pics of the supposed BFFs enjoying a few water sports together:

But the water frolicking didn’t end with just the Jetski play … ChRihanna also spent part of their time getting up close and personal with one another on a big ole inner tube. After the jump, check out more pics of the buddies lookin’ awfully romantical with one another …

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