BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – A stunning-looking and strong-sounding Whitney Houston made a triumphant return to the stage at a pre-Grammy party honoring her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis.

"I've got it, I've got it!" Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early Sunday morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, "I'm Every Woman." But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar — whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago — was back in top form.

"We all crossed our fingers that her beautiful story would end (happily)," said Jamie Foxx, who stood at the front of the stage and took video of Houston like he was just another fan in the crowd. "This is a new begining."

Houston's mini-concert put an exclamation point on a night that included a rousing performance by Kelly Clarkson, an unlikely but magical duet between Jennifer Hudson and Barry Manilow and a rambling monologue by Kanye West.

"I have to bow in the presence of greats right now," West said as he looked out into the crowd, which at one point included Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, Diddy, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Quincy Jones, and other luminaries.

"I'm just humbled by your greatness, and also Clive," West told the audience.

Davis, the music mogul who founded labels, signed greats ranging from Houston to Bruce Springsteen to Janis Joplin, and resuscitated the careers of veterans like Rod Stewart and Carlos Santana, was honored by the Recording Academy as an industry icon on Saturday, hours before Sunday's Grammys. For nearly three decades, Davis' pre-Grammy party and concert had become one of the industry's most coveted invites; this year, the Recording Academy took the event over and honored Davis instead.

But while Davis got an award, he still held court like it was his own party, acting as the evening's host as he introduced performers like Stewart, the Kings of Leon and Leona Lewis.

Diddy got the often staid crowd on their feet with a moving rendition of his tribute to the slain Notorious B.I.G., "I'll Be Missing You," with Biggie's widow, singer Faith Evans, and a gospel choir.

Clarkson got one of the evening's biggest ovations with her performance of her new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You" and the Joplin gem "Piece of My Heart."

But Hudson was perhaps the night's biggest star — until Houston hit the stage. Starting with the Super Bowl last Sunday, Hudson has been raising her profile after spending months in seclusion following the slayings of her mother, brother and nephew last October.

A smiling Houston performed her hit "Spotlight," which earned her one of her four Grammy nominations, and got a standing ovation from the crowd. But she raised the bar with a pairing with Barry Manilow, injecting one of his signature songs, "Weekend in New England," with a lacking ingredient — soul.

Afterward, the Oscar-winner joined the audience (and friend Fantasia), stood in the front and danced and sang as Houston performed. Houston started off with "I Will Always Love You," but didn't hit the high, sustaining notes that made the song such a dramatic, stirring hit. Instead, she kept her voice at medium power, deciding to croon rather than soar.

But as she got into hits like "It's Not Right, But It's O.K.," her voice appeared to get stronger — and louder, and while she never replicated the vocal gymnastics of some of her past work, delivered a mesmerizing performance nonetheless.

The 45-year-old, one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, hasn't made an album since 2002. Then she was was sinking due to drug use and a tumultuous personal life — a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980s.

But the singer is expected to release an album sometime this year, and unlike other reported returns, this comeback seems to be the real deal.

Whitney Houston is back. Last night she took the stage at Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy bash and wowed the crowd with a medley of hits. She was clean, sober, and joyous, absolutely radiant and healthy.

Houston knew it was a triumph and she gained confidence as she went from her opening ballad—a shortened version of “I Will Always Love You” through a few of her hits ending with a buoyant “I’m Every Woman.” If there was a fear that her voice was gone, she dispelled it. And while she may not be singing the way she did at 25, the 45 year old is still among the very premiere song stylists in the world.

And that’s saying a lot at Davis’s famous pre-Grammy show. Last night the featured perfomers before Houston took the stage included a magnificent Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, as well as Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow, Josh Groban (substituting for Usher), rockers Kings of Leon, and Sean Puffy Combs featuring Faith Evans in the evening’s one misstep.
Davis received a Lifetime Achievement award at the dinner held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom from the Grammys as an Industry Icon. The recording academy helped sponsor this year’s dinner which many thought could be the last, but I am assured these events will continue as long as Davis wants to have them.

And why not? The Davis dinner showcases the best the record industry has to offer in front of a star studded crowd. Last night the star wattage was turned up several notches by the attendance of Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, and none other than Sly Stone sporting a fuzzy white mohawk. From there on the stars just kept coming: lots of American Idol winners and three of the judges—Randy, Paula and newbie Karo (Simon Cowell was said to be in London).

The Idols on display were Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Swift, and of course Jennifer Hudson.

And then it was just lots of A list stars, from Joan Collins and Jackie Collins to Jamie Foxx, Rihanna, Rosanna Arquette, Bill Maher, Natalie Cole, Sam Moore, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, actor Jon Voight, Herbie Hancock, producer Richard Perry, Chris Tucker, singer Eric Benet, Chris Brown, the Blackeyed Peas, Val Kilmer, Nikki Haskell, director Brett Ratner, David Spade, singer Ryan Shaw, plus both Burt Bacharach and Hal David, movie mogul Bob Shaye, Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, songwriter Dianne Warren, Denise Rich, Holly Robinson Peete, Jimmy Jam Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Kenny Babyface Edmonds, L.A. Reid, John Stamos, singer Duffy, investor Vivi Nevo, and so on.

There wasn’t a table or corner in the packed ballroom where you couldn’t a surprising new face. For example, huddled with Prince all night was his pal, Cedric the Entertainer. When Jamie Foxx did some killer standup about Prince—who sat stone faced for most of it—it was Cedric who was backing the diminutive star up.

And how odd was it that Prince and Sly Stone were just several feet away from each other, in their sightlines, but never spoke? Prince, one could argue, owes his whole career to Stone.

Whitney brought family with her including mom Cissy Houston (walking with a cane from a bad ankle) and daughter Bobbi Kristina, brother Gary and sister-in-law Pat. Jennifer Hudson had her fiancée David Otunga with her for support.

And around the room there were plenty of record company legends, from Berry Gordy to Seymour Stein to producer Phil Ramone. Sony’s Rob Stringer introduced around the new head of Epic Records, British songwriter Amanda Ghost. Quincy Jones held court and cracked wise, while a pregnant Kimora Lee Simmons proudly arrived with actor boyfriend Djimon Honsou.

Maybe the biggest surprise of the night was a disarmingly gracious speech of contrition by Kanye West. He essentially apologized for past behavior and arrogance, hubris etc, praised both Katy Perry and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and ended his remarks by saying, “I’m humbled.”

Somehow security chief Bill Mancini, an expert at diplomacy, kept this high density group of egos and bold faced names happy and without incident. There was nary a party crasher, and none of the problems that usually plague the Golden Globes in the same location. Everyone was happy for a change! Amazing!

But the night as usual belong to Clive, who kept a steady commentary going between acts as he introduced famous guests to the crowd and acknowledged all their accomplishments. All of it was amazing, but none more than Houston’s remarkable—and most welcome—return to the stage. The audience naturally gave her standing ovations and shout outs, that was to be expected. But to hear her so fully back and ready –her album may be released in late summer—was Davis’s crowning glory. That is—until the album does come out, and is a hit.

To that end, I can tell you that most of the tracks for Houston’s comeback collection are finished. I’m told that among the possible singles is a composition titled “Calling You Tonight,” written and produced by Norwegian hitmakers Stargate. Get ready to hear that.

As for Jennifer Hudson—I have to say, she continues to astound and impress after the terrible tragedies in her family. On Friday night at the MusiCares tribute to Neil Diamond she stole the show with a powerful gospel rendition of “Holly Holy.” Last night, she performed her hit “Spotlight,” then sat down with Barry Manilow—who was at the piano—and walked away with his “Weekend in New England” in a duet that turned into a stunning solo knockout. Hudson will also perform tonight on the Grammys. I asked what she’ll do after all this is over. A vacation? Or back to work.

She narrowed her beautiful brown eyes at me. “I am here, now, that’s all I can say.” And that’s all she has to say. She’s remarkable.

Look out for the double disc set:

"Hell 2 Tha Naw" / "Crack Is Wack."

In the style of Outkast's "Speakerboxx" / "The Love Below."

On the front cover of the 1st album, she'll be posin like this in the photo:



it's gonna be a holographic cover, so you'll see her movin her head while she's doin it.....sorta like how those chicks on Ricki Lake would do as they were gettin all worked up....she'd be movin her head like a pigeon and drawing a circle with her finger.

"Hell 2 Tha Naw" is gonna be sprawled across the front cover in great big letters.