Don Lemon Receives Standing Ovation at Pre-Grammy Gala Following His Arrest for Storming Minnesota Church
LOS ANGELES — The music world lost a giant when heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne died last summer. So what better way to kick off Clive Davis’ famous pre-Grammys gala on Saturday night than with a tribute to the Prince of Darkness?
MGK (formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly) and country star Jelly Roll began the evening of live music and tributes with Osbourne’s “I Don’t Wanna Stop” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” respectively, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
“Rest in peace, Ozzy,” MGK said. “Take it home, Jelly.”
The performances came fast and furious: Alex Warren brought his hit “Ordinary”; somber made “12 to 12”; “The Birds Don’t Sing” by Clipse and John Legend tells a moving story. Olivia Dean, a leading contender for best new artist at the 2026 Grammys, sang “Man I Need.”
The greatest of all? Trio HUNTR/X performs “Golden” from “Kpop Demon Hunters,” a fictional girl group featuring real-life singers Ejae (voice of Rumi), Audrey Nuna (Mira) and Rei Ami (Zoey), for a full-throated vocal performance.
Before famed 93-year-old music executive Davis appeared on stage in a sequinned suit to host his annual gala, Recording Academy President and CEO Harvey Mason Jr. announced that the date of the event, January 31, had been dubbed “Clive Davis Day” by the city of Beverly Hills, where it was held.
“I think you’re going to have an incredible time tonight,” Davis told his audience, an understatement if ever there was one, before shouting out some of the big names sitting in front of him: Joni Mitchell, Nancy Pelosi, Berry Gordy and Brandi Carlile among them.
A mid-show tribute to Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s main collaborator and lyricist, had people dancing; Darren Criss launched into “Benny and the Jets.” Laufey joined him for the duet “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”.
Republic Records founders, CEO Monte Lipman and COO Avery Lipman, received the 2026 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award at the prestigious event and used their speeches to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit of Universal Music Group. Even Stevie Wonder sang their praises.
The brothers were celebrated as titans of their industry; Republic Records is consistently considered one of the most influential labels in the music industry.
The Davis Gala, the incredibly popular and equally exclusive event, took on a different tone this year than last year, when it was transformed to refocus on relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles area wildfires.
Outside, a small group of protesters, carrying megaphones, staged a demonstration against the enforcement of immigration laws. The Beverly Hilton is part of Hilton Worldwide; Recently, protesters held demonstrations in New York and Minneapolis, wearing shirts reading “Hilton Houses ICE” and calling on Hilton to stop federal immigration agents from staying there.
Inside, music was front and center: Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to the late Roberta Flack with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” The Dan + Shay duo did the same for Art Garfunkel, who then closed the stage with “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Before performing, Garfunkel told the room that his song was inspired by Phil Spector’s production on “Ol’ Man River,” where the largest orchestration is recorded for the last line. Davis was one of the first to believe in this unusual idea.
Getting admission to the Davis event is notoriously difficult. Stars who made the cut this year include 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 also received one of Davis’ most coveted thank yous. The independent journalist was released Friday after being arrested and charged with federal civil rights violations for his coverage of an anti-immigration protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church. When he rose from his seat to greet the crowd, he was greeted with a standing ovation.
At the start of the evening, a video message from President Barack Obama was broadcast on the screen. “Clive’s talent has always been to see and hear what others don’t see,” he said, then listed some of the artists Davis helped launch: “Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston.”
It’s an impressive list and further proof of what makes Davis’ night a highlight of every Grammy week. There is 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: “He’s the best friend a song ever had.” »
