The show goes on: Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks glam up at Clive Davis pre-Grammy party, a year on from Whitney Houston tragedy
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All guests at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy bash will have spared a thought for the late Whitney Houston, who died at a hotel room at the party venue - the Beverly Hilton - just hours before the festivities commenced last year.
But 22-year-old Sparks was close to the great diva, who died aged just 48, working with her on the film Sparkle.
A difficult night: Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks both look stunning in their evening frocks at Clive Davis annual pre-Grammy party on Saturday, a year since Whitney Houston died while preparing for the event
Tragic: Whitney, pictured at the 2011 Clive Davis party, passed away while preparing for the bash in 2012
So in memory of Whitney, the star did just that as she appeared on the red carpet wearing an eye-catching teal gown and a broad smile.
At one point, she flashed her leg through a slit in her dress.
Keeping the upbeat tone going was Jennifer Hudson who famously performed on Grammy's night last year in a hastily arranged tribute to Houston.
Hudson showed off her svelte figure in a stunning floaty Maria Lucia Hohan dress teamed with black strappy sandals.
Houston tragically passed away on February 11 2012 when she drowned in her hotel bath tub prior to the Davis party.
The following month, the Los Angeles County coroner's office reported the cause of Houston's death was drowning and 'the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.'
Davis, the 80-year-old founder of Arista Records and current chief creative office of Sony Music Entertainment, was considered a mentor to Houston throughout her tumultuous career after he discovered her when she was just 20.
At her funeral, he talked of how he remained close to the singer - who was 48 when she died - throughout her career and through her battles with drug addiction.
Flashing the flesh: Jordin showed off her leg in a cheeky pose on the red carpet
Slim and trim: The Weight Watchers spokesman showed off her slim and trim figure in the floaty biscuit coloured dress
Rubbing shoulders: Jennifer happily showed off her stunning figure on the carpet, posing with Clive Davis and later Gayle King
And on Saturday, he paid a brief tribute to the star at his annual party, playing a rarely seen video of her performing All The Man That I need during a concert for the troops.
'She was the greatest contemporary singer of our lifetime,' he told the assembled star-studded audience.
Houston's brother Gary was at the party as was Pat Houston, Gary's wife and Whitney's manager.
Remembering: Clive Davis took the stage to pay a brief tribute to Houston during tonight's party
Music legends: Davis posed with veteran folk singer Joni Mitchell who sported a long silver gown and scarf
The star's mother Cissy declined to attend, saying last week: 'I don’t know why they would want me to come to the party in which she died, you know? Unheard of.'
Davis took the arm of veteran folk singer Joni Mitchell at the event, which also honoured record producer and X Factor judge L.A. Reid.
The white stuff: Katy Perry was unusually demure as she stepped out in a beaded full length cream and white gown
His and hers: Katy happily posed with new beau John Mayer who sported a white suit and black bow tie to match his girlfriends cream and white outfit
Black and white delight: Mayer and Perry seemed to be having a great time at the party
Puckering up: Katy and Miley posed together for a cheeky kissing shot inside the event
A slew of stars stepped out at the bash on Saturday night, which is considered the hottest pre-Grammy ticket in town.
Katy Perry was unusually demure in a sequinned white and cream floor length long sleeved number.
She happily posed with new beau John Mayer who seemed to match his girlfriend in a white dinner jacket and black bow tie.
Back to black: Miley Cyrus flashed a great deal of cleavage in her floor length black gown
Miley's men: Cyrus posed with L.A. Reid and Ryan Seacrest inside the Beverly Hilton
Hell for leather: Carly cut a svelte and stunning figure in the leather studded dress teamed with black platform shoes
Severe look: Nicole Richie arrived in a boxy black textured number with shoulder pads and slicked back hair
Slinky: Melanie Griffith sported a long sleeved black gown which clung to her slim figure, while Kathy Griffin went for a similar look but in daring leather
The Firework singer seemed in good spirits as she jokingly puckered up to fellow attendee Miley Cyrus who poked out her tongue at the star.
Miley was a little more revealing in her choice of outfit, flashing a great deal of the side of her cleavage in her daring black gown with gold detail and sheer panels.
Melanie Griffith also stuck to black, sporting a slinky long sleeved number which clung to her slim figure.
Spot the difference: Johnny Depp looked a little dishevelled as he took a seat next to rocker Alice Cooper
A dream in tangerine: Ashanti showed off her some side boob in her draped orange gown
Old Hollywood: Ciara looked like a classic starlet in her backless sweeping gown and crimson lipstick
Blonde ambition: British singers Ellie Goulding and Natasha Bedingfield arrived in contrasting black and white
Call Me Maybe singer Carly Rae Jepsen seemed determined to turn heads, arriving in a striking red leather studded dress which showed off her svelte figure.
Also along for the musical night of back-slapping was Foo Fighters and Nirvana legend, Dave Grohl who arrived with his stunning wife Jordyn.
Nicole Richie plumped for a boxy severe look with slicked-back hair and a textured black clinging dress with shoulder pads while Ashanti also looked striking in a tangerine draped gown which flashed the flesh.
It takes two baby: Sting and Trudie Styler looked markedly casual on the carpet, while Kelsey Grammer and wife Kayte looked a little more formal in their black and white outfits
Puckering up: Kelsey and Kayte shared a smooch while Larry King planted a smacker on wife Shawn Southwick
Chewing the fat: Mayer and Sting found time for a catch up after dinner
Sparkling: Joan Collins arrived looking a great deal younger than her 79 years in a sparkling jacket and floor length gown
Strike a pose: Randy Jackson joined Melissa and Joan Rivers, Ciara, Davis and Seacrest for a group photo
Singer Ciara also went for a classic look in a sweeping biscuit coloured backless gown teamed with crimson lipstick and a swept over hairstyle which made her look like a classic starlet.
John Legend's fiancée Chrissy Teigen joined the legions of glamorous ladies at the bash, looking beautiful in a simple but striking pink dress.
Blonde British beauties Natasha Bedingfield and Ellie Goulding arrived in contrasting black and white gowns, with Natasha cheekily flashing some leg towards the photographers.
Slinky: Tyra Banks arrived in a stunning strapless gown with ornate gold necklace while DJ Caroline D'Amore flashed the flesh in a gold number which only just preserved her modesty
Leaving little to the imagination: Cher Lloyd was clearly keen to make an impression in her black dress which only just covered her modesty, while model Yolanda Hadid covered up more but showed off her toned tummy with cut out panels
Pretty in pink: Chrissy Teigen showed off her stunning good looks in a simple but pretty floor length number
Me and my gal: John Legend happily posed with his stunning girlfriend Chrissy Teigen while Dave Grohl arrived with wife Jordyn
They were joined by rising British singer Cher Lloyd who clearly was keen to make an impression in a striking dress with sheer panels which only just covered her modesty.
But the bash wasn't just for the younger generation.
Rocker Sting arrived with wife Trudie Styler arrived looking decidedly more casual than the other attendees in shabby bottle green trousers and a blazer.
Going for gold: Randy Jackson stepped out in some striking gold slip on shoes as he posed next to American Idol host Ryan Seacrest
Fifty shades of grey: Usher and Sean 'P Diddy' Combs both wore grey suits, with Sean sporting a smart bow tie and sunglasses
Water music: Melissa and Joan Rivers arrived together while David Spade chatted to DJ Caroline D'Amore
He was later seen inside the event having a chat with John Mayer before taking the stage to perform.
Despite being best known for his TV roles, Kelsey Grammer, was clearly keen to rub shoulders with some of the music industry's finest and arrived in a smart suit with his wife Kayte.
Suited and booted: Punk star Patti Smith arrived with her daughter Jesse, while Pharrell Williams arrived with his fiancée, fashion designer and model Helen Lasinchanh
Taking the stage: Patti later performed to the slew of stars at the event
The couple even shared a smooch on the red carpet, while talk show host Larry King also puckered up to wife Shawn Southwick.
Joan Collins was another legend from the acting world to enjoy some dinner and drinks, and arrived looking far younger than her 79 years in a glittering black biker jacket and black gown.
Wannabe rocker Johnny Depp represented the movie world at the bash and sat next to music legend Alice Cooper over a dinner of what appeared to be a healthy salad.
Hats off: Will.i.am arrived with a mystery lady, while L.A. Reid and wife Erica looked striking in a satin orange number
Music legends: Members of the group Earth Wind and Fire look in good spirits as they pose on the carpet
We are the music makers: Estelle Swaray wore gold and black, Elle Varner sported a button down red gown while Jill Scott wore a black patterned number
Hip and cool: Ne-Yo looked striking in a hat and striped pleather blazer while Wiz Khalifa wore the same blazer - fortunately Akon picked a completely different gold kjacket
Even reclusive punk rocker Patti Smith made an appearance with her daughter Jesse, although the singer songwriter typically stood out in a suit and tie.
Patti later took the stage inside the event, giving a memorable performance before R& B singer Miguel sang a number.
Trendy dance floor favourite Skrillex also performed inside the venue, although the cool customer kept his sunglasses on while walking the red carpet.
Dapper: Ryan Lochte sported a green velvet tuxedo while 'N SYNC star JC Chasez looked dapper in a dinner jacket and dance floor icon Skrillex kept his sunglasses on
Holding hands: Partners Sara Gilbert and singer/songwriter Linda Perry arrived both dressed in jackets and jeans
They're with the band: Folk rock band The Lumineers added some earthy charm to proceedings
Meanwhile, there was a slight wardrobe crisis between rapper Wuz Kalifa and Ne-Yo when they both turned up in the same black and white pleather blazer.
R&B star Akon, meanwhile, looked particularly striking in a gold jacket.
The 55th Grammy awards take place on Sunday in The Staples Centre, Downtown Los Angeles.
Towering above: Former NBA player Earvin 'Magic' Johnson (L) and Cookie Johnson rubbed shoulders with Comedian Kathy Griffin (L) and NFL player Colin Kaepernick
Music maestro: Gladys Knight wore a gold and black one shouldered gown, while Emeli Sande sported a white top and black skirt and legendary producer Quincy Jones looked smart in a black suit
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2276376/Jennifer-Hudson-Jordin-Sparks-glam-Clive-Davis-pre-Grammy-party-year-Whitney-Houston-tragedy.html#ixzz2KVU3Z9tR
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