Clive Davis and Kevin Costner speak onstage during the Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons honoring Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman on February 4, 2023 in Los Angeles, California (Photo credit: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Eleven years ago, Whitney Houston died in a suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, downstairs from where the annual pre-Grammy gala hosted by her mentor Clive Davis was due to take place in a few hours. The gala on that tragic evening became something of a wake, with Davis initiating a minute’s silence; The following night, at the Grammy Awards, Jennifer Hudson gave a memorable musical tribute to the late diva. When Davis’ gala returned to the Beverly Hilton on February 4 after a three-year pandemic hiatus, Houston’s presence was felt intensely — not only as Hudson delivered another stunning performance, but also as Houston’s The Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner. delivered the evening’s emotional opening speeches, seemingly trying to absolve Davis of the guilt that lingered all these years later.
Costner, who also co-produced The Bodyguard, Houston’s acting debut, 30 years ago, began by joking about not feeling qualified to introduce Davis before reflecting on the unlikely, lasting friendship they formed while on the job had closed on the film. “How do any three people in this world find each other? I don’t know. In this business it doesn’t matter who we are or where we start; It’s all about the intersection of how we come together and what we make of this fateful union,” mused Costner.
“Whitney had become the most famous singer of her generation, but she was also an untrained actress. And it was unclear whether she should aim for that or even something that would benefit her career,” recalls Costner. “All three of us would make a big leap. And maybe the biggest, maybe the hardest, was for Clive. I had to believe that I could make the film I envisioned. Whitney saw it as an opportunity to reinvent himself. But for Clive, it was a career move that contained a recipe for disaster. I needed Clive. I needed his trust and blessing, and I needed the one thing he wasn’t used to giving up: control. We were set up to be mortal enemies, if you think about it. It could only go one way – and if it didn’t work out, I wouldn’t have been invited tonight! But in this case, Clive was right. If Whitney didn’t work, then neither does the film. And that clarity, that determination, that’s what I love about Clive.”
Costner continued to marvel at the “voice that came out of that little body in the studio that night” as Houston recorded her signature song from The Bodyguard, a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” — the best-selling single of all time by an artist and what Costner called “the performance of her life.” But then Costner noticeably choked when he addressed his friend Davis directly: “Now I want to say something I’ve never said to you. Maybe this isn’t the right space for it, but I don’t want to miss the moment. And it comes from the heart. Neither of us could protect your beloved Whitney in the end. But your fingerprints on her life are clean, my friend. You were a miracle in her life. Thank you for being her bodyguard, Clive, and for every person in this room you stood behind and for. Everyone in this business has a mother, but not everyone gets a Clive. So you must come here. This is your stage.”
As Davis approached the podium, the usually garrulous record executive seemed stunned. “I’m really blown away after hearing those words from Kevin,” he said softly. “That was just a wow for me, Kevin. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this introduction and for constantly deepening our friendship.”
Jennifer Hudson performs on stage during the Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons honoring Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman on February 4, 2023 in Los Angeles, California (Photos: Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Saturday’s most impressive moment, however, was when Hudson appeared on the Davis stage at the Beverly Hilton to sing another of Houston’s famous ballads, “The Greatest Love of All” — a nearly seven-minute tour de force that received a rapturous standing ovation an A-list crowd that includes Adrien Brody, Brandi Carlile, Chance the Rapper, Alice Cooper, Paris Hilton, Lil Nas X, Demi Lovato, Joni Mitchell, Nile Rodgers, Smokey Robinson, Olivia Rodrigo, Sharon Stone, Lars Ulrich and Diane Warren included , Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Cardi B and Offset, Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox, Nancy and Paul Pelosi, and Pat Houston (Whitney’s sister-in-law, President of Whitney Houston Enterprises, co-executor of Whitney’s estate, and co-producer of the biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody).
“It came from the heart,” a humbled Hudson told Yahoo Entertainment after the epic performance.
Houston, who would have turned 60 this year, was celebrated during Grammy week 2023 when publisher Primary Wave Music and the singer’s estate opened the Whitney Houston Hotel. The residency, held at the W in Hollywood, included an immersive listening lounge, a rare memorabilia display and two days of live music from fellow Houston admirers such as Destiny’s Child star Michelle Williams and Glee actress Amber Riley, as well as a panel discussion from Houston Legacy .
While taking the stage at Davis’ pre-Grammy gala on Saturday, one of the many other performers at the event, Elvis Costello, reminisced on the shocking night of Houston’s death as his wife, jazz singer Diana Krall, spoke in Houston’s honor “If I Had You” performed at the 2012 Gala. The mood was obviously a lot lighter this year as Costello jammed with Latino superstar Juanes on “Pump It Up” and performed his famous rendition of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love.” , and Understanding” by his “hero” Nick Lowe. Other upbeat highlights of Saturday’s event included lively performances from Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, Lizzo and Latto; Best New Italian Artist nominees Måneskin perform their rockin’ cover of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Beggin'”; and in an unexpected generational moment, the actual Valli sings “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” Sheryl Crow also paid tribute to another lost legend, the recently deceased Christine McVie, by performing Fleetwood Mac’s solos “Songbird” and “Say You Love Me” on the piano.
English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello performs onstage during the Recording Academy and Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/ AFP via Getty Images)
US rapper Lil Wayne performs onstage during the Recording Academy And Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN / AFP via Getty Images)
US singer Lizzo performs onstage during the Recording Academy And Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN / AFP via Getty Images)
US rapper Latto performs onstage during the Recording Academy And Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN / AFP via Getty Images)
US singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow performs onstage during the Recording Academy And Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/ AFP via Getty Images)
Damiano David of Maneskin performs onstage during The Recording Academy And Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN / AFP via Getty Images)
US singer/songwriter Frankie Valli performs onstage during the Recording Academy and Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael TRAN/AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)
At the end of the evening, Atlantic Records executives Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman received the 2023 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons award from Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, who thanked the couple for their support through the difficult process the making of her debut album She Was Pregnant and assured her she could “have anything”.
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will be held Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will air at 5pm PT/8pm ET on CBS and Paramount+.
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