Davis’ party is always a must for the music industry’s A-listers, and they were out in force at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for Saturday’s gala: Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, the Black Eyed Peas, Jane Fonda, Usher, Quincy Jones, Wyclef Jean, Akon, Carrie Underwood and more mingled together at the exclusive event.
Rihanna hung out with gal pal Katy Perry and Perry’s new fiance, comedian Russell Brand, for much of the evening. Her appearance was notable because it was after she and then-boyfriend Chris Brown attended the Davis party last year that Brown assaulted her.
This year, she partied with friends like Drake as she wowed onlookers with an asymmetrical dress made completely of tool, making her look like she was dressed in a cotton candy confection.
Onstage, there were performances from the likes of Peas, Blige, Carrie Underwood, Maxwell Harry Connick Jr., and Jamie Foxx. The Peas, who are up for six Grammys, performed their hit “Boom Boom Pow,” then Fergie was joined by Slash as she performed the Guns N’ Roses classic, “Sweet Child of Mine,” which garnered applause — but not enough for will.i.am’s liking.
“Usually Fergie and Slash on stage would have brought down the house. This ain’t no boogie (expletive),” he admonished the crowd. “Music industry, we can’t be spoiled,” he said before launching into the Peas’ Grammy-nominated smash, “I Gotta Feeling.”
It was Streisand’s first time at the party, and Davis orchestrated for Hudson to sing rousing renditions of “People” and “The Way We Were.” But the evening — which started at 7 p.m. — ran over five hours, and by the time Hudson performed, virtually every top celebrity had abandoned ship.
Their absences were not lost on Davis.
“You know it’s less than three hours of music,” he told the crowd that remained as the event was coming to a close. “If you can’t take it, you’re in the wrong business.”
