(RECAP) Diddy, Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx, Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson and More Attend Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Zoom Party

Not even a pandemic could stop Clive Davis from holding his annual pre-Grammy party. This year, however, the glitzy event was held virtually in a five hour, invite-only Zoom call attended by the music industry’s top artists, producers, and executives.

Davis, 88, hosted the event virtually from Miami instead of its usual confides of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. More than 2,000 guests logged in for the event, including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jamie Foxx, Chance the Rapper, Dionne Warrick, Quincy Jones, Gayle King, Don Lemon, Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys, according to Variety and other publications invited to attend.

It was recently announced that the Grammys will be moved to March 14 from its original date of Jan. 31. Davis, however, decided to hold two pre-Grammy parties—on the original date and another on the eve of the 2021 Grammy Awards, March 13, according to Variety. Yesterday’s pre-Grammy party benefitted MusiCares, while the second event will benefit the Grammy Museum.

According to reports, yesterday’s pre-Grammy party featured a mix of Davis presenting videos he says are among the greatest pop performances of all time, including Whitney Houston performing a medley of songs at the 1994 American Music Awards, and new performances for the event, including John Legend covering the Marvin Gaye classic “Mercy, Mercy Me.”

Throughout the program, legendary musicians who have crossed paths with Davis over his 50 years in the industry shared personal stories about his influence on their careers, including Bruce Springsteen, Barry Gibb, Carole King and Alicia Keys, who shared a story about Davis helping her get released from an earlier contract that prevented her from releasing music.

Diddy Reflects on Pandemic, Foxx Recalls First Pre-Grammy Performance

Combs, who first partnered with Davis in 1991 on Bad Boy Entertainment, shared a memory of his 23-year old self being impressed with Davis’ then-Arista Records office.

Combs also reflected on his life during the pandemic, according to Billboard.  “For me, my life got better because I was running myself into the ground and I wasn’t taking enough time for my family and for myself,” Billboard reported. “It’s really been a blessing.”

“I lost [Kim Porter] the mother of my children [in 2019] and the time that [my kids and I] were sequestered together, it helped me to make up for all those years I was on tour and to get closer to my family,” Combs said. “For me, it’s been a blessing but really using the time to become a better father and a better person.”

Foxx, who signed to Davis’ J Records in 2005, performed from his home piano the Ray Charles classic “Georgia on My Mind” – not before offering the story of the first time he performed at Davis’ Pre-Grammy party. “I came to not just hang, but to show my wares, because I had been trying to get into the business,” he said before singing the song featured in the movie “Ray,” which Foxx won an Oscar for in 2005.

Aretha Franklin Remembered

Davis also paid tribute to Aretha Franklin, who he has partnered with since he signed her to Arista records in 1979, during the pre-Grammy party, including during a chat with legendary singer/songwriter Carole King, who discussed the video of Franklin’s 2012 performance of “Natural Woman” when King was a Kennedy Center Honoree.

Jennifer Hudson, who portrayed Franklin in the yet-to-be released biopic “Respect,” was joined by a band in her hometown of Chicago as she performed a medley of gospel/spiritual songs recorded by Franklin, including “Amazing Grace” and “Bridge Over Trouble Water.”

Chance the Rapper/Dionne Warrick Collabo Update

Chance the Rapper also made an appearance at the pre-Grammy Zoom party, being interviewed by Davis about his admiration for Michael Jackson, whose 1983 “Motown 25” performance among the videos highlighted on the program.

Chance offered guests on the Zoom an update on a song he’s recording with Dionne Warwick, which came about after she began randomly tweeting the rapper asking about his stage name, according to Billboard.

“The song isn’t finished yet,” he said, noting that proceeds will benefit both Warrick’s non-profit, Hunger: Not Impossible, and Chance’s youth empowerment program, SocialWorks. “We’re hoping to impact as many people as we can while it’s cold out there.”

Fresh off Democratic victories for President and the Senate, the pre-Grammy event also attended by Nancy Pelosi and Stacey Abrams, who was attending her first Davis pre-Grammy Party.