Music mogul Clive Davis hosted his annual Pre-Grammy Gala event at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA last night bringing out a who’s who of music big wigs (as well as a very awkward pair of newlyweds who seem to have difficulty with the kissing) to celebrate Grammy weekend as only he knows how to do. Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson were among the performers at last night’s affair (you may recall that Whitney Houston was among the performers at last year’s event, kicking off her stunning musical comeback which took place later in the year). Here are some photos from the red carpet arrivals along with some deets about the soiree:
It was an incongruous group. On one level were Hollywood royalty Barbra Streisand and Jane Fonda, Joan and Jackie Collins. In their sights, on the next level down, were Mary J Blige, Taylor Swift, Maxwell, Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas, Keyshia, Mos Def, Nelly, Jonas Brothers, Russell Brand and his fiance Katy Perry, the Kings of Leon, Usher and Jon Bon Jovi and many others. They were seated in what is known as the ‘pit’ inside the Beverly Hilton’s international ballroom. The old guard and the new guard of Hollywood movies and rock ‘n’ roll were gathered for the annual pre-Grammy party hosted by music industry mogul Clive Davis, known as ‘golden ears’ for his ability in finding and developing music artists. Some claim the pre-Grammy bash on Saturday night is bigger, and better, than the official Grammy show on Sunday night. It’s certainly a looser affair. Celebrities knock back wine and champagne and table hop. The evening saw Mary J Blige publicly humiliate her band in front of an audience that included recording industry titans and some of the biggest names in rock. The singer lost her cool as, ironically, she was about to sing a song titled No More Drama … Diva she may be but, to be fair to Mary J. Blige, she did sing beautifully and by the time she completed her performance her behaviour towards the band was forgiven and she earned a standing ovation … The night’s most amusing sight was observing Joan Collins and sister Jackie on their feet and waving their arms as Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas performed on stage. At least they moved in time to the music. Jennifer Hudson,who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in Dreamgirls, performed a string of its associated with Barbra Streisand. Beforehand Hudson joked that she was frightened she would forget the lyrics. ‘They kept changing what songs I’d sing so I had to stay focused’, Hudson told the Daily Mail. Clive Davis hailed Oscar, Grammy and Tony award winner Streisand as a ‘unique, singular artist’ who boasted a number one album in five consecutive decades. ‘She’s the movie soundtrack of our lives’, Davis said of Streisand. Other big names at the pre-Grammy gig included Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx and Harry Connick Jr. Rhianna sat at a prime table in the ‘pit’. This time last year she was seated at a similar table with Chris Brown … His name was missing from every Grammy party this weekend. However, Rhianna’s career has never been hotter and on Saturday everyone in the international ballroom queued to hug her.
Yes, as you may recall it was after Clive Davis‘s Pre-Grammy Gala last year that Brown brutally and criminally assaulted Rihanna. I’m so happy to see that Rihanna had no qualms about attending this event a year later, especially considering the horrible memories it is bound to dredge up. Grammy weekend does not get started until Clive throws his party so … it is now officially upon us. The Grammy Awards air LIVE on the East Coast starting at 8pm ET. Make sure you pick up your 3D glasses at Target so you can watch the tribute to Michael Jackson in 3D:
[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]
Recent Comments