The Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala: A Night of Musical Legends and Controversial Moments
The music industry lost a true icon with the passing of Ozzy Osbourne last summer, and what better way to honor the Prince of Darkness than with a star-studded tribute at the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala? The event, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, was a celebration of music's greatest talents, but it also had its fair share of controversial moments and thought-provoking discussions.
The night began with a powerful tribute to Osbourne, as MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly) and country star Jelly Roll performed 'I Don't Wanna Stop' and 'Mama, I'm Coming Home', respectively. But here's where it gets controversial... A small group of protesters, with a megaphone, held an anti-immigration enforcement demonstration outside, calling attention to the Hilton Worldwide's association with ICE. Inside, the music continued with a diverse lineup of performances.
Alex Warren brought his hit 'Ordinary', sombr did '12 to 12', and Clipse and John Legend's 'The Birds Don't Sing' told a soulful story. Olivia Dean, a top contender for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys, sang 'Man I Need'. But the greatest performance of the night was undoubtedly the trio HUNTR/X doing 'Golden' from 'Kpop Demon Hunters'. The group, a fictional girl group built of very real singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, delivered a full-throated vocal performance that left the audience in awe.
Before the 93-year-old music executive Clive Davis emerged on stage in a sequined suit to host his annual gala, Recording Academy President and CEO Harvey Mason Jr. announced that the date of the event, January 31, had been dubbed 'Clive Davis Day' by the city of Beverly Hills. Davis, an early believer in Art Garfunkel's unique style, introduced the singer to perform 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', styled after Phil Spector's production on 'Ol' Man River'.
The gala honored the founders of Republic Records, CEO Monte Lipman and COO Avery Lipman, with the 2026 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award. Their speeches highlighted Universal Music Group's entrepreneurial spirit, and even Stevie Wonder sang their praises. The brothers have been celebrated as titans of their industry, and Republic Records is routinely viewed as one of the most influential labels in the music business.
The event also had its fair share of controversial moments. Don Lemon, an independent journalist, received one of Davis' coveted shout-outs. Lemon was released from custody after being arrested and hit with federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church. When he stood from his seat to wave to the crowd, he was met with a standing ovation.
Early on in the evening, a video message from President Barack Obama played on screen. Obama praised Davis' talent for seeing and hearing what others don't, and listed a few of the artists Davis helped launch: Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, and Whitney Houston. It is an impressive list and further evidence of what makes Davis' party a highlight of every Grammy week. As Gayle King said when she quoted Warren at the top of the show: 'He's the best friend a song ever had'.
The 68th Grammy Awards will be held on February 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. For more coverage of this year's Grammy Awards, visit www.apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards.
