LOS ANGELES — The music world misplaced an enormous when heavy steel icon Ozzy Osbourne died final summer season. So, what higher option to kick off the famed Clive Davis pre-Grammys gala Saturday night time than with a tribute to the prince of darkness?

MGK (previously referred to as Machine Gun Kelly) and nation star Jelly Roll started the night time of stay music and tributes with Osbourne’s “I Do not Wanna Cease” and “Mama, I’m Coming Residence,” respectively, on the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“Relaxation in peace, Ozzy,” MGK stated. “Deliver it residence, Jelly.”

Performances adopted quick and livid from there: Alex Warren introduced his “Peculiar” hit; sombr did “12 to 12”; Clipse and John Legend’s “The Birds Don’t Sing” instructed a soulful story. Olivia Dean, a prime contender for finest new artist on the 2026 Grammys, sang “Man I Want.”

Best of all? The trio HUNTR/X doing “Golden” from “Kpop Demon Hunters,” a fictional woman group constructed of very actual singers Ejae (the voice of Rumi), Audrey Nuna (Mira), and Rei Ami (Zoey), for a full-throated vocal efficiency.

Earlier than the 93-year-old famed music government Davis emerged on stage in a sequined go well with to host his annual gala, Recording Academy President and CEO Harvey Mason jr. introduced that the date of the occasion, Jan. 31, had been dubbed “Clive Davis Day” by the town of Beverly Hills, the place it was held.

“I feel you’re gonna have an unimaginable time this night,” Davis instructed his viewers, an understatement if there ever was one, earlier than shouting out a few of the massive names seated earlier than him: Joni Mitchell, Nancy Pelosi, Berry Gordy and Brandi Carlile amongst them.

A midshow tribute to Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s principal collaborator and lyricist, bought individuals dancing; Darren Criss launched into “Benny and the Jets.” Laufey joined him for the duet “Don’t Go Breaking My Coronary heart.”

Republic Information founders, CEO Monte Lipman and COO Avery Lipman, had been honored with the 2026 Grammy Salute to Trade Icons Award on the star-studded occasion and used their speeches to highlight Common Music Group’s entrepreneurial spirit. Even Stevie Marvel sang their praises.

The brothers have been celebrated as titans of their business; Republic Information is routinely seen as probably the most influential labels within the music enterprise.

Davis’ gala, the extremely common and equally unique occasion, struck a special tone this yr than final, when it was reworked to refocus on aid efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.

Exterior, a small group of protesters, with a megaphone, held an anti-immigration enforcement demonstration. The Beverly Hilton is part of Hilton Worldwide; not too long ago, protesters have held demonstrations in NYC and Minneapolis, sporting shirts that learn “Hilton homes ICE” and calling for Hilton to cease federal immigration officers from staying there.

Inside, music was on the heart: Jennifer Hudson paid homage to the late Roberta Flack with “The First Time Ever I Noticed Your Face.” The duo Dan + Shay did the identical for Artwork Garfunkel, who later closed the stage with “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Earlier than he carried out, Garfunkel instructed the room his tune was styled after Phil Spector’s manufacturing on “Ol’ Man River,” the place the largest orchestration is saved for the final line. Davis was an early believer within the uncommon concept.

Gaining admittance to Davis’ occasion is notoriously difficult. The A-listers who made the minimize this yr 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.

Don Lemon, too, acquired certainly one of Davis’ coveted shout-outs. The unbiased journalist was launched from custody Friday after he was arrested and hit with federal civil rights prices over his protection of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church. When he stood from his seat to wave to the gang, he was met with a standing ovation.

Early on within the night, a video message from President Barack Obama performed on display. “Clive’s expertise has at all times been seeing and listening to what different individuals don’t,” he stated, then listed just a few of the artists Davis helped launch: “Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston.”

It’s a powerful record and additional proof of what makes Davis’ celebration a spotlight of each Grammy week. There’s plenty of expertise within the room, and at its coronary heart is the person who is aware of find out how to acknowledge it. Or, as Gayle King stated when she quoted Warren on the prime of the present: “He’s one of the best buddy a tune ever had.”

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The 68th Grammy Awards might be held Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles. The present will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. For extra protection of this yr’s Grammy Awards, go to: www.apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards