USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.

Jelly Roll, Huntr/x, Olivia Dean: Inside Clive Davis' one-of-a-kind Grammys gala

Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAYFebruary 1, 2026 at 10:26 PM

0

BEVERLY HILLS, California – It is still possible to awe Clive Davis.

Sitting at a table inside his longtime bungalow at The Beverly Hills Hotel, Davis worked out the final logistics for the 51st iteration of his famed Pre-Grammy Gala and reflected for a moment about what makes his annual soiree the most coveted ticket in town during Grammys Week.

“I have to pinch myself because in a very competitive business, to have the heads of every worldwide record company come every year and not try to compete with (the party) but turn this night into my sharing my love of music is touching,” Davis, who turns 94 in April, told USA TODAY as he pored over notes for the Jan. 31 event.

“I try to make it fresh and compelling and do justice to what we do in music,” he said, before adding with a laugh, “I get paid a lot of money to worry. You’ve got to worry it to fruition.”

Clive Davis and Martha Stewart attend the Recording Academy and Clive Davis' Salute To Industry Icons Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Jan. 31, 2026.

A little more than 24 hours later, Davis was at his rightful place, clad in a multicolor sequined jacket and sitting at a small table onstage in the bustling ballroom of The Beverly Hilton hotel.

His introduction, usually bestowed by an actor or musician, was this year delivered on video by President Barack Obama.

“Most people don’t realize how much the music they love was shaped by one man,” Obama said of Davis’ legacy. “The world sounds a little bit better.”

This is the first time any president has introduced Davis, and, he told USA TODAY, it’s an honor he accepted with grace.

“It really warms my heart,” Davis said about the man he met through Aretha Franklin “years ago” and for whom he has “great admiration.”

“It’s very special to get that kind of introduction,” Davis said.

Davis presided over a night that found him engaging in his legendary call-outs of some of the stars in the room, a gloriously disparate bunch that included Martha Stewart, Nancy Pelosi, Teyana Taylor, Coleman Domingo, Dave Grohl, Karol G and Joni Mitchell.

Davis broke a little news when intro-ing Mitchell’s table mate Cameron Crowe, telling the ballroom that Meryl Streep has been officially confirmed to star in the Mitchell biopic being produced by Crowe.

Also in the crowd? Journalist Don Lemon, a day after being released from jail on charges stemming from a church protest in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The roar that greeted him was matched only by the rapturous greeting directed at Martha Stewart, who flashed her beatific smile as she stood and waved.

Davis’ party also always spotlights an industry behemoth, and this year, Republic Records co-founders Monte and Avery Lipman received their flowers as the 2026 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons honorees, which included a speech from Stevie Wonder.

But the music, of course, is the point of Davis’ bash, the kind that only an esteemed, ridiculously connected music mogul can curate.

From Jelly Roll paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne – with wife Sharon and kids Kelly and Jack in the room – to Art Garfunkel making a rare appearance to the women of Huntr/x dropping some K-pop in the room, the lineup offered plenty of inimitable moments.

Here’s a look at a few performances that also included Alex Warren, The Clipse, sombr and Darren Criss and Laufey rollicking through a tribute to Bernie Taupin.

Jelly Roll and MGK honor Ozzy Osbourne

Jelly Roll performed a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the Recording Academy and Clive Davis' Salute To Industry Icons Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Jan. 31, 2026.

A visibly touched MGK prefaced his rendition of “I Don’t Wanna Stop” by seeking out the Osbournes at their table near the front of the stage to say, “It’s an honor to play for him.”

MGK slashed at his signature Razor Blade guitar through Osbourne’s No. 1 rock hit from 2007’s “Black Rain” album with somber respect.

The continually slimming Jelly Roll started his performance of “Mama I’m Coming Home” by patting his chest and pointing to Sharon Osbourne. The robust singer unsheathed his grittiest tone as he clenched his eyes, bleeding with emotion as he powered through the rock ballad.

Olivia Dean smashes her breakthrough hit

Grammy nominee Olivia Dean performed her breakthrough hit "Man I Need" Jan. 31, 2026 at Clive Davis' annual Pre-Grammy Gala in Beverly Hills, California.

In her dark gold and black striped slip of a dress, Dean slinked through the song that propelled her onto the nominations list for best new artist at the Feb. 1 Grammy Awards.

Dean was feeling every word as she freely waved her arms and smiled as she rolled through “Man I Need.”

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” she beamed at the crowd, before walking over to hug Davis.

Huntr/x brings a glow to the room

(From left) Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna - aka Huntr/x - perform at the Recording Academy and Clive Davis' Salute To Industry Icons Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Jan. 31, 2026.

Even with “KPop Demon Hunters” breaking Netflix records and captivating preteen girls, it was still a fun surprise when the Huntr/x trio – EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – appeared in their combination silver and black outfits.

Their vocals meshed effortlessly on “Golden” as they sang to a backing track and engaged in some of the posing that is familiar to Huntr/x fans. Their inclusion signaled that even though Davis’ legacy is steeped in veteran artists, his interest in younger trends is undiminished.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clive Davis' annual Grammys party surprised with Obama, Ozzy tribute

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”