Clive Davis, 88, was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, but will ‘postpone his annual pre-Grammy gala’

Music producer Clive Davis revealed that he was diagnosed with a medical condition known as Bell’s palsy.

A representative for the 88-year-old label’s executive confirmed the diagnosis, which is not fatal, in a statement to Variety on Tuesday, adding that Davis is ‘in a good mood’.

The agency also reported that due to his illness, the annual Clive David Pre-Grammy Gala will be postponed several weeks after the Grammy Awards in March.

The 2021 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala, which traditionally takes place the night before the Grammy Awards, is being moved to May this year.

Although delays have become common recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic (the Grammies themselves have been made responsible), a Davis representative told Variety that the change in date is due to the producer’s medical condition.

Clive Davis is currently dealing with an outbreak of Bell’s palsy, which is a sudden onset of weakness in facial muscles. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease is usually temporary, life-threatening, has no known exact cause and can occur at any age.

Davis is “in a good mood”, is being treated with antibiotics and steroids and is expected to fully recover in six to eight weeks.

His annual gala – which is being held virtually due to the pandemic – is likely to be rescheduled for May, pending Davis’ recovery.

Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Gala was forced to spin this year on the COVID-19 and already received a virtual part of the evening in January. The first event, held the night before the launch of the Grammy Awards, raised money for the Recording Academy’s MusicCares.

When the biggest night of music was postponed from January 31 to March 14, Davis decided to organize a second virtual event that is being postponed until spring.

In early 2021, Grammy executive producer Ben Winston personally confirmed the news that the ceremony would be postponed for several months, making things official just hours after a Recording Academy representative confirmed the news to Variety.

The statement, which came from Winston, Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy and Jack Sussman of CBS, said: ‘After thoughtful talks with health experts, our host and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling the 63rd GRAMMY Awards for March 14 2021.

“The deterioration of COVID’s situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services overloaded, ICUs reaching their maximum capacity and the new guidelines from state and local governments, all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do.

‘Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to produce the show.

The statement ended with a thank you to the artists, employees, suppliers and nominees for their ‘understanding, patience and willingness to work’ with the organization as they sail ‘in these unprecedented times’.

In addition, the recent influx of COVID-19 into and around Los Angeles – the planned venue for the ceremony – has become a growing concern.

Daily Show star Trevor Noah was chosen to receive the 2021 awards that honor the best in music and is expected to resume that role when a new date is set.

The producers of this year’s program were already trying to be creative in how to make it work safely in socially distant performances.

There was talk of having a limited audience, or possibly no audience at all, and making musical performances on various stages and locations. This year’s nominees were announced in late November during a virtual live broadcast.

Beyoncé tops the list with the most nominations, getting an impressive number of nine. Taylor Swift, Roddy Ricch and Dua Lipa followed with six tributes each.