Tom Hanks, the two-time Oscar winner, was a master of hype at Saturday night's (Feb. 3) annual pre-Grammy dinner presented by Clive Davis and the Recording Academy. Grammy Awards 2024 is set the following night and everyone can feel the anticipation in the air.
With loud ovation greeting him, Davis took the stage at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, and once again promised to create an evening that would never be forgotten-a promise he has made since the celebration began 48 years ago.
Guests and Photos
The world's biggest stars were present in the room as usual: Cher, Mariah Carey, and Meryl Streep (sitting with her daughter Grace Gummer and Gummer's husband, producer Mark Ronson); Lenny Kravitz, Serena Williams, Hanks, and his wife, Rita Wilson; Scottie Pippen, Cameron Crowe, Peter Asher, Gayle King, Max Martin, Shania Twain, Adrian Brody, Jon Bon Jovi, Paris Hilton, Smokey Robinson, and, for the 24th year in a row, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her husband, Paul; and so on.
Avril Lavigne, Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa unexpectedly graced the star-studded event. Beyonce and Jay-Z cancelled though.
Performances
But the most talented performers from remarkably different backgrounds took the stage.
Introducing herself as the band's "mascot," Williams kicked off the evening with a thrilling performance of "American Idiot" and "Basket Case" by Green Day.
Subsequently, Ronson and his co-writer Andrew Wyatt were joined by Lainey Wilson, who was substituting for Ryan Gosling, in a charming gender twist, for an impeccable rendition of Barbie's "I'm Just Ken."
As promised, the evening put a lot of emphasis on up-and-coming performers who have made waves with breakthrough songs in recent months.
Among other memorable performances, Jelly Roll led the audience to church with two songs about his frantic need for salvation, even though the Groban/Trotter coupling would have appeared impossible to follow. He sang scorching, begging renditions of "Need a Favor," performed with a full choir, and "Save Me," backed by Wilson. Jon Platt, the chairman and CEO of Sony Music Publishing, was honored as the 2024 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons recipient.
Soon after midnight, Public Enemy and the Isley Brothers, two artists that had been crucial to Platt's early career, performed to an enthusiastic audience, setting the scenario for Platt to accept his award. Platt rattled over several highlights from his storied career in a speech that lasted more than 30 minutes and caused the fire alarm to go off twice. He referred to the evening's accolade as a "full-circle moment."
The crowd cheered as the last acts hit the stage at one in the morning: legendary Gladys Knight sang "The Way We Were," which she and The Pips had taken to No. 11 almost 50 years earlier in 1975; Colombian singer Maluma did a high-energy rendition of the song to an enthusiastic audience.
Next, Dionne Warwick-half of the group that recorded the 1985 hit charity song "That's What Friends Were For"-joined her, along with Keyshia Cole and Andra Day. When Stevie Wonder-who also sang on the original song-played his instantly known harmonica solo, the audience erupted in cheers.
Even though it was meant to be the group's final song, Wonder led them in "What the World Needs Now Is Love" to welcome the audience to a wet Los Angeles evening.
Pre-Grammy Party 2024 Musical Lineup
The following were performed in this event:
"American Idiot" and "Basket Case" by Green Day
Mark Ronson, "I'm Just Ken," alongside Andrew Wyatt and Lainey Wilson
"Deli" by Ice Spice
"Dial Drunk," "Stick Season," and Noah Kahan "On My Mama" by Victoria Monét
Josh Groban - Sondheim medley featuring "Not While I'm Around" and "Children Will Listen"
Michael Trotter Jr. and Josh Groban - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Jelly Roll: "I Need a Help," Alongside Lainey Wilson,
"Save Me" "Can't Truss It," "Bring the Noise," and "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy.
"Shout" by the Isley Brothers Maluma - "Hawaii"
"The Way We Were" by Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Andra Day, and Keyshia Cole - "That's What Friends Are For," "Love is what the world needs right now."
