The show will go on, even without its colorful maestro.
The tradition of Clive Davis’ storied Pre-Grammy Galawill continue at the same place, the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, and the same timeframe, the night before the 2027 Grammy Awards.
The Feb. 6 event will showcase a lineup of major artists to be announced who will honor the life and legacy of Davis, who died June 22
at the age of 94.Davis, the influential record mogul who helmed Columbia and Arista Records and launched the careers of a multitude of artists, including Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Barry Manilow, took tremendous pride in choosing the talent for his renowned party.
Days before the show, he could be found in his bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California,
poring over his comments for that year's event and talking excitedly about the newcomers he'd plucked to perform alongside legends and the industry titans who clamored to attend.
The Pre-Grammy Gala is often cited as the launch of the careers of Keys and Jennifer Hudson, while other artists, such as Brandi Carlile and last year’s spotlight artist, Olivia Dean, benefited from the exposure.
“I have to pinch myself because in a very competitive business and to have the heads of every worldwide record company from the U.S. to the U.K. come every year and not try to compete with it, but in effect turn this night into my sharing my love of music, it’s touching,” Davis told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview at his bungalow the day before the 2026 bash. “I try to make it fresh and compelling and with great entertainment to do justice to what we do in music … How do you top the best ever every year? I’m a worrier. But you learn to let it be what you wanted and worry it into fruition.”
Davis created the Pre-Grammy Gala in 1976 and partnered with the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammy Awards, in 2009 to present the starry event.
“Clive built this gala into something the entire music community looked forward to for five decades. He never did it for applause or recognition. He did it because he loved this community, believed in the power of music, and understood what it meant to bring us all together to celebrate it,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “I was lucky to call Clive a friend and mentor, and working with him taught me so much. That’s exactly the spirit he brought to the Pre-Grammy Gala and I know he’d want nothing more than for the show to go on this year. It’s our honor to celebrate the legacy he left behind.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clive Davis' legacy will live on with his Pre-Grammy Gala
