Music Producer Recalls Final Call with Whitney Houston

Clive Davis reflects on the haunting promise made by the late singer just hours before her death.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:38am

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In a new interview, legendary music producer Clive Davis recounts a three-hour phone call he had with Whitney Houston just hours before her tragic death in 2012. Davis describes a sense of dread that morning at his pre-Grammys gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Houston was expected to attend, and the haunting promise she made to him during their final conversation.

Why it matters

Whitney Houston's untimely death at the age of 48 shocked the music industry and her legions of fans worldwide. As one of the most successful recording artists of all time, Houston's personal struggles and eventual demise have been the subject of intense public fascination and scrutiny. Davis' recollection of their final interaction provides a rare, intimate window into Houston's state of mind in her final hours.

The details

In the new interview, Davis reveals that he spoke to Houston for nearly three hours the night before his annual pre-Grammys party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. During the call, Houston made a promise to Davis that she would attend the event the next day, despite her well-documented personal troubles at the time. However, the following morning, Davis was informed of Houston's passing at the very hotel where the party was to be held.

  • The phone call between Clive Davis and Whitney Houston took place the night before Davis' pre-Grammys gala on February 11, 2012.
  • Whitney Houston was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11, 2012, just hours before the scheduled pre-Grammys party.

The players

Clive Davis

A legendary music producer who has worked with many of the industry's biggest stars, including Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston

One of the best-selling music artists of all time, known for hit songs like "I Will Always Love You" and "Saving All My Love for You." Houston passed away in 2012 at the age of 48.

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What they’re saying

“The promise she made that night haunts me to this day.”

— Clive Davis, Music Producer

The takeaway

Clive Davis' recollection of his final conversation with Whitney Houston provides a poignant and bittersweet look into the personal struggles of one of music's greatest icons in the final hours before her untimely death.