Witnesses say Whitney Houston had to be gently escorted off stage at Clive Davis' legendary pre-Grammy party...
From News One
The moments [from Clive's pre-Grammy party] sure to generate the most buzz came from Whitney Houston and R. Kelly: both gave performances that bordered on bizarre, with two entirely different results.
Kelly owned the evening with an electrifying set that had stars from Akon to “Glee” star Jane Lynch on their feet, as he sang his retro hit “When A Woman Loves” and also dabbled through his rich catalog of hits that includes songs ranging from “Step In The Name of Love” to “Your Body’s Calling.” His started his mini-concert off with the odd choice of the national anthem, though soulfully rendered, then in another puzzling moment, teased a bit of the “Price Is Right” theme.
But Kelly had the A-list crowd riveted as he ran through his own classics; by the time he ended his set with his soaring “When a Woman Loves,” he was receiving a standing ovation.
Whitney Houston, the evening’s last performer, also got a reverential response from the audience as she came on stage, looking dazzling in a silver-sequinned dress.
But her once majestic voice, though at times showing flashes of her former brilliance, sounded weary and hoarse as she creaked through a tribute to her famous singing cousin, Dionne Warwick.
“I didn’t have to look for the ‘American Idol,’ because she was in my home,” said Houston of the classic performer.
During a couple of moments, like her brief performance of “Alfie,” she seemed to veer from the rehearsed plan, and meandered on the stage. As a finale, she brought her legendary relative onstage as they both sang Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For.”
Afterward, Houston seemed like she wanted to get back on the mic, but Davis, who discovered Houston, grabbed her and joked: “I found you when you were 19; I’m still your boss!” He then bid the audience goodnight, ending that possibility.
