You knew Clive Davis would pull off a big surprise at this annual pre-Grammy gala. And so: beloved legend Joni Mitchell made a triumphant appearance last night in the Beverly Hilton ballroom two years after a cerebral brain hemorrhage felled her at home. She was wheelchair bound but that was only because of the huge walking distances at the Hilton.

Otherwise, with swept back hair and a beautiful ornamented top and black skirt Joni was absolutely glowing as literally dozens of famous people, rock stars, actors, and so on waited to pay tribute to her at a table she shared with family, friends, and director Cameron Crowe.

But that wasn’t the whole surprise. Knowing she was coming, Clive flew in another legend, Judy Collins, who brought her guitar onto the stage midway through the show and performed Joni’s “Both Sides Now” with her glorious and remarkable voice sweeping over the ballroom. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Especially moved was rock legend Stephen Stills, who wrote the famous song “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” about his then girlfriend back in 1969. And here’s a scoop: Stills and Collins are going out on tour together this summer. The plans are being solidified right now.

Clive gave Joni several shout outs at the beginning of the star filled night that honored BET’s Debra Lee and featured opening remarks from NARAS chief Neil Portnow, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. There were performances from Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Maren Morris, DNCE, Panic at the Disco, Maxwell, Chance the Rapper, Bel Biv Devoe, Mike Posner, and another legend, Neil Diamond, who got the whole room up and singing a jubilant “Sweet Caroline.”

Hudson was absolutely brilliant singing Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah.” Mary J peeled the paint off the ceiling with “No More Drama.” Maxwell gave an emotional tribute to Prince with “Nothing Compares 2 U,” throwing in a mini-nod to Whitney Houston.

And then there was the guest list. This is the only event I can think of where most of the audience has to walk the red carpet. Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Jane Fonda and famed music producer Richard Perry, the BeeGees’ Barry Gibb, Michael Keaton, Jeremy Renner, Herbie Hancock, Anita Baker, Valerie Simpson— let’s just start there. Apple’s Tim Cook and Eddie Cue were incredibly popular. They were delighted to meet Courtney Love, who looked terrific and introduced herself to them.

Around the room, huge bunches of celebrities clogged the walkways– the security people kept asking big stars step to the side, which was sort of hilarious. But there was Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, and their wives, plus Tamron Hall, Lee Daniels, Jimmy Jam Harris, Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff, LL Cool J, Brian Grazer, Diane Warren, Max Martin, soul star Anthony Hamilton, Motown founder Berry Gordy. Even Weird Al Yankovic was in the house!

Oscar winner Jared Leto came, wearing a a crazy wool hat and a disguise. Caitlyn Jenner and Jon Voight sat together and talked about their love of Trump. (They didn’t like Nancy Pelosi‘s beautiful speech about the arts, which bonded them.) Catilyn brought her daughter in law, Voight had his god-daughter with him.

We had the very high and the low at the same time– Wiz Kalifa smoked out and smooched with his new squeeze, Amber Rose. Britney Spears came with an Israeli bodyguard who immediately incurred the wrath of party security by insisting on standing behind her at her table to protect her from the other celebrities. Maybe she was afraid of Tony winner Cynthia Erivo or Paul Shaffer, or Peter Asher, or Beverly Johnson, Nikki Haskell, Beck, “Laugh In” creator George Schlatter, Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, legendary songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, or Barbra Streisand’s famed manager Marty Erlichman. You know you can never be too careful!

Amazing night, once again– and more stories coming!

photo c2017 Showbiz411

Five years ago this afternoon, right about now, I got a call from the desk downstairs at the Beverly Hilton. I was getting ready for Clive Davis’s annual pre Grammy show. Ray Davies had just finished rehearsal. Tony Bennett was next.

And the voice said: “Mr. Friedman, Whitney Houston has died one floor above you.”

Within two hours, all the media in the world descended on the hotel. At the same, the Grammy guests were piling into the lobby. It was too late to cancel the show; the guests were already on their way. I have no report from that night because it was published elsewhere and has since been removed. But what I remember mostly was a beautiful speech from Sean Puffy Combs, and Clive showing video of Whitney from past years.

Everything else is a blur. I do remember being back in the lobby when Bobbi Kristina was taken out by paramedics. After being upstairs for too long with her dead mother, the poor girl freaked out. She would never be the same.  And now she’s gone, too.

The spirit of Whitney will be hovering over tonight’s party. Whitney is never far from anyone’s mind because of her long association with Clive Davis. Her band leader, Rickey Minor, is still running the show. (Two years ago Mike Ahearn, who used to run the show, also passed away. A lot of other people have left us, too, like Jackie Collins and Joan Rivers and Dick Clark and Merv Griffin– always regulars at this event.)

Here’s to Whitney. When I first met her she was young and full of mischief. She was a superstar with a powerhouse voice and a fame and that was so huge she could not get control of it. She never did. She hadn’t met Bobby Brown yet, but that accident was around the corner, and the bad elements of that relationship exacerbated all of her fears and doubts. But the real Whitney, with a clear head, was a remarkable artist and a great girl.  She will really be missed tonight.

The Beverly Hilton is abuzz, to say the least. Stars are coming and going for rehearsals, and it’s all very hush hush. Was that Maxwell? Someone saw Chance the Rapper. And that was only Thursday. Today even bigger names are coming, and more on Saturday. By the time the doors open to Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy dinner and show of shows, there should be as many celebrities on stage as there are sitting in the ballroom.

This year Clive and NARAS are honoring the very popular head of BET, Debra Lee. So the buzz is amped up a little bit more, to an “11” as the guys from Spinal Tap might say. The tribute to Lee is the centerpiece of the evening, but Davis will pull from all his contacts after six decades as the premier Music Man in the record biz to put on quite a show. There will be a combination of the newest stars and the greatest classic legacy performers.

Already on the guest list– Neil Diamond. Do you think he’s just going to sit there? (Neil, please do “Holly Holy” or “Solitary Man.” Please….)

Already expected: Apple’s Tim Cook and Eddy Cue, Jane Fonda and  producer Richard Perry, Barry Gibb, Brian Grazer, Kaz Hirai, Jimmy Jam, Caitlyn Jenner, Quincy Jones, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Les Moonves, Mo Ostin, Ryan Seacrest, Ringo Starr, Sly Stone, Joe Walsh, Verdine White (of Earth Wind and Fire), Pharrell Williams, Neil Young & Daryl Hannah and Hans Zimmer.

Plus, of course, Sony’s Doug Morris and Universal’s Lucian Grange, and loquacious  NARAS chief Neil Portnow, and the heads of all the record companies. And even more Hollywood stars. And surprises galore.

CAA is throwing a Grammy party somewhere on Saturday night, but really you know– everyone comes to Clive’s,  everyone wants to be seen there, and you don’t leave until Mr. Davis bids us goodnight. Which will be just in time to get home and get a little shut eye before the actual Grammys.

PS Clive had a couple hundred celebs over this past Monday night to see his documentary “Soundtrack of Our Lives.” The film is opening the Tribeca Film Festival in April and there will be a superstar show at Radio City. Many who went to Monday’s screening tell me there was a standing ovation and tears. Amazing!