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As was reported earlier, it appears that Whitney Houston passed away by drowning yesterday afternoon just hours before she was scheduled to appear and reportedly perform at The Recording Academy and Clive Davis Annual Pre-Grammy Party that famously takes place annually each night before the Grammy Awards. Because the event was so beloved by Whitney, her mentor and friend Clive Davis decided that the show would go on despite her death and would, instead, be turned into an impromptu memorial for the late Whitney Houston. Clive Davis opened the show last night with remarks about Whitney‘s passing and then led the assembled audience in a respectful moment of silence … and then the party got underway. Click below to see photos and watch video from last night’s somber yet celebratory event.

Music mogul Clive Davis hosted his annual Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, CA and — as usual — managed to attract a who’s who of celebs both in the audience and on stage as musical performers. This year’s event was thrown in honor of David Geffen and among the performers who took the stage was Cher, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston and more!

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]

As I mentioned in the previous post, Whitney Houston was on hand at the Beverly Hills Hilton last night to perform for and honor famed music mogul Clive Davis at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards Salute to Icons event that was held last night. Because Whitney looked and (apparently) sounded so amazing at last night’s shindig, I thought it would be appropriate to give her own post to highlight her fabulosity. Here are a few pics of Whitney lookin’ AMAZING on stage last night:

From the moment cocktails were served at 7, buzz swirled around Whitney Houston. Would the long-absent diva really brave the stage at Saturday night’s celebrity-packed Pre-Grammy Gala? Host Clive Davis, Sony Music’s chief creative officer, gave her top billing, and guests at the Beverly Hilton were finally rewarded at 12:30 a.m., when the singer emerged for a short but lively medley that opened with a restrained I Will Always Love You and swelled into a dance jam with It’s Not Right But It’s Okay and I’m Every Woman. Houston, 45, sported big gold hoop earrings and a snug tea-length leopard-print gown as she confidently strutted across the stage in stiletto heels. Though her voice was not the sterling instrument of her prime, she seemed vocally fit, if somewhat buried by the loud band, backup singers and exuberant audience that cheered her return.

OMG, love it!!! You may recall that earlier this week we saw photos of Whitney and her daughter Bobbi Kristina making their arrival in SoCal … at the time, I wondered if Whitney was in town to begin work on her much-anticipated comeback album … I guess now we know the real purpose of her visit to SoCal. Even still, I’m encouraged by the rumors that her new album might be due for release this year. If anyone can get that album out of her, it’s Clive Davis. After the jump, check out a very nice portrait of Whitney and Clive that was taken backstage at last night’s event …

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 …