BET’s Debra Lee Honored as Chance the Rapper & More Perform at Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala
A rare public appearance by legend Joni Mitchell. Mary J. Blige’s show-stopping performance of her hit “No More Drama.” Lena Dunham, Lorde and Jack Antonoff vibing to Chance the Rapper. Those are just a few of the unique moments witnessed at last evening’s Pre-Grammy Gala (Feb. 11), hosted by Clive Davis and The Recording Academy at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Fresh off the ratings success of BET’s The New Edition Story, Bell Biv Devoe jumpstarted the three-and-a-half-hour gala with their hit “Poison” for the traditionally star-studded crowd. Introduced afterwards by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Davis singled out four of those stars who, he said, “sum up this evening”: Stevie Wonder, Mitchell, Quincy Jones and Jane Fonda.
Davis did shout out additional names throughout the evening, including Ringo Starr, Barry Gibb, Berry Gordy, John Legend, Dunham, LL Cool J (who politely posed selfies and nearly caused a traffic jam at the exits) and Beck (seen chatting with producer Max Martin). Also spotted in the ballroom: Britney Spears, The Chainsmokers, Michael Keaton, Melanie Griffith and Kris Jenner.
Delivering the first of the evening’s several standing ovations was a white-gowned Jennifer Hudson, who delivered a powerful interpretation of the late Leonard…