That little boy who introduced Diana Ross on the Grammys last night was her grandson, Raif Kendrick. At 9 years old he already has the poise to host the whole show! Raif has the genes. His grandfather is Berry Gordy, founder of Motown. He already looks like a combo of Ross and Gordy. Raif’s mom is Diana’s singer daughter, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, was also raised by Diana’s then husband, former music manager Robert Ellis Silberstein. The whole gang has turned into a big, blended family over the years. Diana and Bob’s daughter, Tracee Ellis Ross, is a big star (“Blackish,” among other things. They were all sitting together last night. Diana has a public reputation as a diva, but in private she’s a hell of a mom. No one believes she’s 75, she looks like a kid!

It's official: @DianaRoss' grandson has the cutest #GRAMMYs performance introduction of the night. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/tITfJMnKOc

— CBS (@CBS) February 11, 2019

EXCLUSIVE

The parties rolled out after the Grammys were over, but it was all about Universal Music Group. They scored the biggest ‘get’ as Sir Lucian Grainge– whose company picked up Album of the Year with Kacey Mugraves’ “Golden Hour”– welcomed legacy superstars like Mick Jagger, Tony Bennett, and Earth Wind & Fire.

Mick and girlfriend Melanie Hamrick were surprise guests at the Universal party space, which was jammed with music industry types and performers including Alessia Cara, Hailee Steinfeld, and Motown  founder Berry Gordy, as well as Bonny Rice, son of the late great R&B star Sir Mack Rice of Falcons fame (his dad wrote “Mustang Sally”). Quincy Jones held court insider, and Sam Moore celebrated his Lifetime Achievement Award on the red carpet– despite the bitter cold. (Is this really California?)

I  talked to Mick for a couple of minutes over the din of gossip and a live DJ. I asked him about new music, particularly a solo record after he dropped a couple of new tracks last year on iTunes. He shook his head and told me: “I can’t do that right now. We’re working on a new Rolling Stones album. I have meetings about it this week.” He made a motion to indicate he was writing songs.

Well, that’s news since the last Stones album, “Blue and Lonesome,” was a big hit. If they’re talking now, we should have a new album for the fall, maybe by Grammy deadline.

Over at Republic Records’ party the crowd partied on and they’re also part of Universal Music. This is where the great Stevie Wonder landed, as well as basketball great Scottie Pippen, actress Sophie Turner and pop star Joe Jonas, singer-songwriter Julia Michaels, lots of newcomers including model Maya Henry.

But the highlight of Republic’s party was the appearance of Paris Jackson, looking swell, and having a great time. I talked to her briefly, and just as I thought, she’s a very smart and together young lady. She traveled with a posse of pals, all of whom looked like they were good friends out for a fun night.

Clive Davis’s  43rd pre-Grammy party was teeming with celebrities, all with a obsessive love of music in common.  The biggest rock star of the night? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who earned a rousing standing ovation from everyone in the International Ballroom when Clive introduced her from the odium.

“She’s front and center making history as never before.  She’s now the highest ranking female politician ever.”  Nancy was met with thunderous applause. Barbra Streisand was at her table with husband James Brolin. Streisand Tweeted later:” The Grammys always seem to start at Clive Davis’ annual night-before party. It was fun, particularly talking with Nancy Pelosi about the country’s exciting new spirit.”

Famed songwriter Carole Bayer Sager and husband Bob Daly, who for years ran Warner Bros., were also at the table. Briefly, Apple chief Tim Cook and music manager Scooter Braun joined them. Pelosi must have appeared in a thousand selfies during the night. Everywhere she went people approached her clapping “Nancy style” the way she’d done to DOnald Trump at the State of the Union.

Glasses were also raised for Recording Academy president/CEO Neil Portnow; this is his last year at the helm. The audience included Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman along with LL Cool J, Beck, Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott (they share a baby daughter Stormi.)  Travis was the first to perform, Auto Tune-singing, “Goosebumps” and “Sicko Mode,” and quipping to the crowd that,  “I could have stayed in the crib and watched Spongebob with Stormi all night. But I chose to come and party with y’all tonight, so I just wanna rage.”  The audience was not really his, and he was frustrated. “I don’t like bystanders,” he said, and got the crowd pumping.

A big surprise of the night: famed Minneapolis funk group, “The Time,” with Morris Day, Jerome Benton, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam and more took the stage for Clarence Avant, who was being honored with the Industry Icon Award and has long been known as the “Godfather of Black Music.” Quincy Jones also paid tribute to his, “brother from another mother.”  Taped tributes from Barack Obama, Kamala Harris and Snoop Dogg also were in the mix…

…Aretha Franklin was remembered with powerhouse performances from Rob Thomas and Jazmine Sullivan, Ledisi and Chloe x Halle… …Florida Georgia Line also played their hit, “Meant To Be” with Bebe Rexha.

Other eclectic happenings in the room included Alice Cooper with Pharrell Williams. Richard Perry, David Hockney, Joni Mitchell and Robbie Robertson all were at one sought-after table. Kathy Griffin, Caitlin Jenner and Sophia Hutchins, Weird Al Yankovic and Fred Armisen and girlfriend Natasha Lyonne were on the other side of the room…

…Behind them Ben Platt, Darren Criss and the glorious Keala Settle, who later sang, “This Is Me,” from “The Greatest Showman,” composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul were seated next to her. Nearby, Hans Zimmer with Don Lemon and Paul Schaffer and next to them Diane Warren, Denise Rich, Nicki Haskell and Beverly Johnson. George Schlatter with Lou Adler in front of them. Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, and Suzanne DePasse comprised a Motown table that also featured Duke Fakir, the original member of the Four Tops…

One knockout table featured “Soul Man” Sam Moore, George Clinton, Leon Bridges, and Ziggy Marley… Another had Karem Abdul Jabbar with Kenny G.  More included Seahawks Russell Wilson with wife Ciara, Alice Cooper, Miguel, Maren Morris, Melissa Etheridge, David Foster, Peter Asher, Dionne Warwick, Jack Antonoff, Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, and Joan Collins.

As the night wound down, hot new artist H.E.R. played a stunning “Make It Rain.”   The last song of the night had all the female artists on stage join Chloe x Halle, the sister act, singing  “Sisters are Doin’ It For Themselves”  with Motown superstar songwriter Valerie Simpson leading the way. Bravo Clive for another stellar year! Long may you reign!

with Roger Friedman

The big surprise of the MusiCares Person of the Year dinner last night was the appearance at the very end of the evening of Linda Ronstadt with Emmylou Harris. They presented their old pal Dolly Parton with the Grammy honor following three hours of performances by music’s best of Dolly’s hits.

Nearly three thousand people jammed the LA Convention Center and raised $6.7 million for the music industry charity that supports musicians with human resources that cover everything from physical illness to addiction to recovery and so on.

Among the performers  were Pink, Miley Cyrus with Mark Ronson and Shawn Mendes, Chris Stapleton, Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Norah Jones, Don Henley and Vince Gill, Mavis Staples with Leon Bridges and Dave Baustiste, Lauren Daigle, and actress Reese Witherspoon for no apparent reason. (She did not sing.)

Willie Nelson dueted with Brandi Carlile and it was magic. But it was Yolanda Adams, out-Whitneying Whitney, on “I Will Always Love You,” that will resonate in our minds forever. Yolanda Adams is simply not getting the sales and airplay she deserves. She is a magnificent singer.

The four members of Little Big Town were the hosts, and they were wonderful, funny, and good sports as the show was long and often not timed right. There was a lot of ad libbing as the quartet was asked to “stretch” between numbers.

It was kind of a goofy night with a lot of excitement in the air as Neil Portnow had Nancy Pelosi at his table. There were politicians and elected officials mixed in with the crowd that also included Katy with boyfriend Orlando Bloom, actor Rupert Friend, and even Sammy Hagar who brought his family and just chilled.

It was a country music night, though, since Dolly– unbelievably– is the first country artist to be named Person of the Year. That was a surprise, even to her.

These sorts of nights, where it’s all leading to an honoree, can sometime go wrong. But in this case the cumulative effect of Dolly’s story, her own charming acceptance speech and performance, with producer-songwriter Linda Perry, was disarmingly sweet and profound. Dolly Parton is a self made success who hasn’t let anything stop her. Thank goodness.

I’ll have some more photos and video later in the day.

PS Kudos to Greg Phillanganes and his superb band, orchestra, whatever you want to call them. Their versatility was tremendous.

Also, during the live auction, Miley won a private tour of Dollywood for $90,000. That’s right — 90 thou. A competing bidder drove her crazy and she asked him to stop bidding! In the end, Dolly offered them each the same prize, so the whole lot went for $180K!

One more thing: Katy Perry could not be nicer. Orlando Bloom, as well.