“It’s the bitchin’ party of the year,” Tom Hanks declared as he welcomed Clive Davis to the stage. The party in question, Davis’ pre-Grammy gala, is in fact just that: a private evening almost as big for the who’s who of Hollywood as the Grammys themselves.
As is tradition, it took place in a glitzy ballroom at the Beverly Hilton; The abundance of chandeliers and illuminated walls in the room mimicked a purple starry sky. It’s the kind of party where even industry professionals are impressed by the caliber of those in attendance. “I just took a picture with Lana Del Rey,” one guest said, beaming.
Del Rey’s presence, for example, is a testament to Clive Davis’ ability to evoke even those who rarely attend the Grammy Award show itself. The Honeymoon singer was just one of the many faces starry-eyed onlookers gathered outside the hotel to see. Mariah Carey made an entrance shoulder to shoulder with singer Monica (talk about megastars you don’t see every day!), while Carter Reum took photos of wife Paris Hilton and friends in the middle of the room. Julia Garner, who waved shyly as Davis gave the actor a shout-out on stage, was on hand in a bright red dress. Elsewhere, Cher, Avril Lavigne and Machine Gun Kelly were spotted.
As much of a spectacle as the guest list itself, Davis’ Pre-Gala is known to be packed with performances that almost rival the television show. This year, Serena Williams welcomed Green Day to the stage for a performance celebrating the rock band’s 30th anniversary, and Davis himself brought out Best New Artist nominee Ice Spice just before Lainey Wilson took the stage to perform a rendition of Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken.” Later came performances from the Isley Brothers and more, while guests ultimately enjoyed dinner at their tables, the room buzzing with eager energy to continue the party, which had begun late in the evening, well into the night. let go.
