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Music Producer Recalls Final Call With Whitney Houston
Clive Davis shares details about his last conversation with the late singer just hours before her death.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:15am
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In a new interview, legendary music producer Clive Davis recounts his final phone call with Whitney Houston just hours before her tragic death in 2012. Davis, who was hosting his annual pre-Grammys gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, describes a sense of foreboding that morning as he spoke with Houston for nearly three hours, unaware it would be their last conversation.
Why it matters
Whitney Houston's untimely passing at age 48 was a major loss for the music industry and her legions of fans. Davis' firsthand account provides a poignant, behind-the-scenes look at the singer's final hours and the impact her death had on those closest to her.
The details
According to Davis, his call with Houston on the morning of the pre-Grammys gala was wide-ranging, covering topics from her career to her personal life. He sensed an underlying sadness in her voice but said she seemed hopeful about the future. Tragically, just hours later, Houston was found unconscious and unresponsive in her hotel room bathtub, and she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
- The phone call between Clive Davis and Whitney Houston took place on the morning of the 2012 pre-Grammys gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
- Whitney Houston was found unconscious in her hotel room bathtub later that same day and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The players
Clive Davis
A legendary music producer who has worked with many of the industry's biggest stars, including Whitney Houston. He was hosting his annual pre-Grammys gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel the day of Houston's death.
Whitney Houston
A renowned singer and actress who was one of the best-selling music artists of all time before her untimely death at age 48 in 2012.
What they’re saying
“The unmistakable sense of dread started the morning of Clive Davis's pre-Grammys gala - the hottest ticket of the weekend, hosted by the legendary music producer at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.”
— Clive Davis, Music Producer
The takeaway
Clive Davis' firsthand account of his final conversation with Whitney Houston provides a poignant look at the singer's final hours and the profound impact her death had on those closest to her. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the lasting legacy of one of music's most iconic performers.
