Mariah Carey stole the spotlight at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Saturday night, looking stunning in a glamorous appearance. The iconic singer, accompanied by her longtime makeup artist Kristofer Buckle as her plus-one, made sure she was perfectly lit for every photo opportunity, with Buckle using his own lighting device to enhance Carey’s radiant look.
Graciously acknowledging compliments from fans, Carey smiled and softly said “thank you” as she navigated the event. Clive Davis, announcing VIPs throughout the gala, highlighted Carey before she made a swift exit shortly after.
Despite Jay-Z and Beyoncé initially confirming their attendance, the power couple unexpectedly canceled at the last minute. The gala still boasted a star-studded guest list, including Meryl Streep, Nancy Pelosi, Lenny Kravitz, Cher, Gloria Estefan, and Serena Williams. Other notable stars present included Tom Hanks, Julia Garner, Shania Twain, Lana Del Rey, Busta Rhymes, and more.
Green Day kicked off the night with a performance of “American Idiot.” Despite the late arrival of Will.i.am, who blamed LA traffic, the event continued with captivating performances by Ice Spice, Victoria Monet, Jelly Roll, Mark Ronson, Lainey Wilson, Andrew Wyatt, and a closing act featuring Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Keyshia Cole, Dionne Warwick, and Andra Day.
The festivities extended to Clive Davis’ unofficial afterparty at the Polo Lounge, where comedian Tiffany Haddish performed Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” with the restaurant band. Notable attendees at the late-night celebration included Denise Rich, Nikki Haskell, Marjorie “DJ Mad Marj” Gubelmann, Greg Schriefer, Candy Spelling, Monte and Angelina Lipman, and Adrien Brody with Georgina Chapman. The night concluded with servers at the Polo Lounge cutting patrons off at 2 a.m.
Please note that Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s representatives did not provide comments on their decision to skip the event.
