Music impresario Clive Davis held his annual pre-Grammy party last night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and there was one person on everyone's mind — Whitney!
A radiant Whitney walked the red carpet on the arm of Clive Davis, the head of the RCA/J Records Group. Performers at the party included Pink, Carrie Underwood, The Black Eyed Peas, and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Justin Timberlake, who was scheduled to perform, backed out due to a high temperature.
Clive told Access Hollywood earlier this week that they've started on her new album already.
"I loved watching her listening to the songs — as we went over it to see what she felt. And we are ready, so I would say about four weeks from now we are going to (officially) start," Clive told Access.
When asked how Whitney was doing, Clive said, "Well she is looking great and she is feeling great; she has obviously been through a trying time but you know, when the going gets tough the tough get going and she is ready!"
AccessHollywood.com's Laura Saltman was at Clive's party and asked many of the celebrity party attendees about the woman of the hour.
Legendary keyboardist Herbie Hancock advised Whitney not to try to come back until she was 100 percent.
"Yeah, sure she can come back. It all really depends on her. I think the most important thing is that she has a comeback within herself. Forget the public. I mean, she has to have a comeback within her own life. If she does that then she's accomplished everything she should be accomplishing," Hancock said.
Actor Terrence Howard spoke very optimistically about how there's no way to keep a talented artist down.
"Well, the beautiful thing about talent ... I was talking to Jack Nicholson and he said ... One of the things he's always held onto and one of the things he would always have, no matter what happens in his life is his talent. His talent," Howard said when prompted about Whitney.
"Marlon Brando... people couldn't stand him, but his talent. His talent is what kept him before the masses because there's something very special about that. At the Golden Globes I was talking about my own individual life. You can make so many mistakes, but that's what being human is all about...And the more daring you are, the greater the fall, but also the greater the climb"
Clive adds that he always believed Whitney would come through this hard time.
"I've known Whitney since she was 18 — her roots are with a Baptist minister mother, who's better known as Sissy Houston. Her father was a bright business — she comes from religious ties, a strong belief in family togetherness, and so you can only hope you don't have any illusions. I can say to you when a family member goes through a crisis you hope that what is inside them enables them to overcome the toughest of problems. So that is why people need medical assistance."