Kevin Costner hails music legend Clive Davis's impact on his 'The Bodyguard' costar Whitney Houston
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'And I will always love you,' singer Whitney Houston will always be remembered for her lovely voice. Kevin Costner is recognizing music producer Clive Davis’ impact on the late Whitney Houston’s life. At Davis’ annual Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday night, the 'Yellowstone' actor gave a speech in which he said he considered Davis to be a "man who changed the times he lived in." The 90-year-old Davis was considered Houston's one of closest people.
Up until now, Davis has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer, in 2000. From 1967 to 1973, Davis was also the president of Columbia Records. Furthermore, the 2023 Pre-Grammy Gala hosted an evening full of Hollywood stars, including a performance by Lizzo and Jennifer Hudson performing Houston’s 'The Greatest Love of All.' Ahead of the 11th anniversary of Whitney Houston's tragic death at the Beverly Hilton, Kevin Costner pays tribute.
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'Clive- a man who changed the times he lived in'
"I want to say something that I've never said to you before," Costner said during his speech. "Maybe this isn't the room for it, but I don't want to miss the moment. And this is from the heart." He continued, "Neither one of us, in the end, could protect your beloved Whitney, but your fingerprints on her life are clean, my friend. You were a miracle in her life."
"Thank you for being her bodyguard, Clive, and for every person in this room who you have stood behind and stood for," Costner added. "Everyone in this business has a mom, but not everyone gets a Clive."
Costner continued: "When some of us met Clive, it altered our lives for the better, and in some cases forever. I don't see Clive as just a man of his time, but maybe more importantly, a man who changed the times he lived in. And he did it by listening, he did it by believing in himself. ... What he believed in most was a special gift that his artists were blessed with. The only thing better than being one of his artists was maybe being his friend."
Whitney Houston's death
In 2012, Houston accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors. News of her death coincided with the 2012 Grammy Awards (which took place the following day of her death), and was covered internationally).
'I Will Always Love You' was a huge hit in 1994 and earned Houston a Grammy for record of the year.