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LOS ANGELES<\/strong> \u2013 The music world lost a giant when heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne died<\/a> last summer. So, what better way to kick off the famed Clive Davis pre-Grammys gala<\/a> Saturday night than with a tribute to the prince of darkness?<\/p>\n MGK (formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly) and country star Jelly Roll began the night of live music and tributes with Osbourne’s \u201cI Don’t Wanna Stop\u201d and \u201cMama, I\u2019m Coming Home,\u201d respectively, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.<\/p>\n \u201cRest in peace, Ozzy,\u201d MGK said. \u201cBring it home, Jelly.\u201d <\/p>\n Performances followed fast and furious from there: Alex Warren brought his \u201cOrdinary\u201d hit; sombr did \u201c12 to 12\u201d; Clipse and John Legend\u2019s \u201cThe Birds Don\u2019t Sing\u201d told a soulful story. Olivia Dean, a top contender for best new artist<\/a> at the 2026 Grammys, sang \u201cMan I Need.\u201d <\/p>\n Greatest of all? The trio HUNTR\/X doing \u201cGolden\u201d from \u201cKpop Demon Hunters,\u201d<\/a> a fictional girl group built of very real singers Ejae (the voice of Rumi), Audrey Nuna (Mira), and Rei Ami (Zoey), for a full-throated vocal performance.<\/p>\n Before the 93-year-old famed music executive Davis emerged on stage in a sequined suit to host his annual gala, Recording Academy President and CEO Harvey Mason jr. announced<\/a> that the date of the event, Jan. 31, had been dubbed \u201cClive Davis Day\u201d by the city of Beverly Hills, where it was held. <\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019re gonna have an incredible time this evening,\u201d Davis told his audience, an understatement if there ever was one, before shouting out some of the big names seated before him: Joni Mitchell, Nancy Pelosi, Berry Gordy and Brandi Carlile among them.<\/p>\n A midshow tribute to Bernie Taupin,<\/a> Elton John\u2019s principal collaborator and lyricist, got people dancing; Darren Criss launched into \u201cBenny and the Jets.\u201d Laufey joined him for the duet \u201cDon\u2019t Go Breaking My Heart.\u201d <\/p>\n Republic Records founders, CEO Monte Lipman and COO Avery Lipman, were honored with the 2026 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award at the star-studded event and used their speeches to spotlight Universal Music Group\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit. Even Stevie Wonder<\/a> sang their praises.<\/p>\n The brothers have been celebrated as titans of their industry; Republic Records is routinely viewed as one of the most influential labels in the music business.<\/p>\n Davis\u2019 gala, the incredibly popular and equally exclusive event, struck a different tone this year than last, when it was transformed to refocus on relief efforts<\/a> following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.<\/a><\/p>\n Outside, a small group of protesters, with a megaphone, held an anti-immigration enforcement demonstration. The Beverly Hilton is a part of Hilton Worldwide; recently, protesters have held demonstrations in NYC<\/a> and Minneapolis, wearing shirts that read \u201cHilton houses ICE\u201d and calling for Hilton to stop federal immigration officers from staying there.<\/p>\n Inside, music was at the center: Jennifer Hudson paid homage to the late Roberta Flack<\/a> with \u201cThe First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.\u201d The duo Dan + Shay did the same for Art Garfunkel, who later closed the stage with \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water.\u201d <\/p>\n Before he performed, Garfunkel told the room his song was styled after Phil Spector\u2019s production on \u201cOl\u2019 Man River,\u201d where the biggest orchestration is saved for the last line. Davis was an early believer in the unusual idea.<\/p>\n Gaining admittance to Davis\u2019 event is notoriously challenging. The A-listers who made the cut this year included Diplo, Karol G, Pharrell Williams, Rita Wilson, Dave Grohl, Diane Warren, Sharon Osbourne, Yungblud, Colman Domingo, Teyana Taylor, Jeff Goldblum, Gladys Knight, Madison Beer, Cameron Crowe, Lana Del Rey, Shaboozey, Max Martin, Leon Thomas, Bebe Rexha and Jack Antonoff.<\/p>\n Don Lemon, too, received one of Davis\u2019 coveted shout-outs. The independent journalist was released from custody Friday after he was arrested and hit with federal civil rights charges<\/a> over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service<\/a> at a Minnesota church. When he stood from his seat to wave to the crowd, he was met with a standing ovation.<\/p>\n Early on in the evening, a video message from President Barack Obama played on screen. \u201cClive\u2019s talent has always been seeing and hearing what other people don\u2019t,\u201d he said, then listed a few of the artists Davis helped launch: \u201cJanis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen,<\/a> Whitney Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n It is an impressive list and further evidence of what makes Davis\u2019 party a highlight of every Grammy week. There\u2019s a lot of talent in the room, and at its heart is the man who knows how to recognize it. Or, as Gayle King said when she quoted Warren at the top of the show: \u201cHe\u2019s the best friend a song ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n