Manilow has since confirmed he is cancer-free, which makes Monday’s funeral appearance carry extra weight. Standing in that synagogue, paying tribute to the man who helped build his career, was also a quiet milestone in his own recovery.
A Surprise Face in the Crowd
Manilow wasn’t the only attendee whose photos sparked a stir. Former “Today” co-anchor Hoda Kotb also turned heads when photos of her at the service began circulating.
Hoda Kotb joined musicians, media personalities, and political figures in paying tribute to Clive Davis at his funeral in New York. Photos of her arrival quickly became a topic of discussion on social media. | Source: Getty Images
Although best known for her television career, Kotb has long been connected to many of the artists and entertainment figures whose lives intersected with Davis throughout the decades.
Her appearance alongside music royalty quickly became one of the more talked-about photo galleries from the memorial, with many social media users focusing on the expressions captured in the arrival photos.
Although best known for her career in television, Hoda Kotb has interviewed many of the music industry’s biggest stars over the years, including several artists whose careers were shaped by Clive Davis. | Source: Getty Images
“What is Hoda doing there?” one commenter asked. Another wondered, “Why is Hoda smiling at a funeral?” A third commenter was even more pointed, writing, “Why is Hoda smiling? Distasteful.”
The reactions continued, with one user commenting, “Hoda is like ‘look at me’ 😂.” Another simply asked, “Why is Hoda smiling?!?”
Clive Davis’ funeral brought together more than musicians. Politicians, actors, television personalities, and other public figures, including Hoda Kotb, also gathered to pay their respects to the legendary record executive. | Source: Getty Images
Remembering Clive Davis’ Remarkable Legacy
Davis’ health had been a concern in recent weeks. He was hospitalized in New York City on May 29 for an upper respiratory issue and was discharged on June 4, with a representative telling Rolling Stone he was “in good spirits and happy to be recuperating at home.”
Clive Davis’ partnership with Whitney Houston changed music history. He discovered the future superstar in the early 1980s and guided her career for decades, remaining one of her closest professional mentors until her death in 2012. | Source: Getty Images
It wasn’t his first health scare; in 2021, his famed Pre-Grammy Gala was postponed after he was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. Davis became president of Columbia Records in 1967 at just 35 years old, and from there built a reputation as the man with “golden ears,” shaping hit after hit across five decades.
Throughout his career, he remained focused on discovering new talent while helping shape some of the most celebrated artists in modern music.
Alicia Keys was one of the defining stars of Clive Davis’ later career. After joining J Records in 2000, she went on to win multiple Grammy Awards under the guidance of the famed music executive. | Source: Getty Images
In a 2017 interview about his documentary, “The Soundtrack of Our Lives,” he reflected on his enduring passion for the industry. “I’m immersed in it,” he said. “I think music is the universal language.”
He also spoke about wanting to keep discovering new talent, saying the industry needed to focus not just on finding the next Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen, but the next Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston — without letting that search overshadow fresh new voices.
Just months before his death, Clive Davis hosted his annual Pre-Grammy Gala in Beverly Hills, a tradition he began in 1975. The exclusive event has long brought together the biggest names in music on the eve of the Grammy Awards. | Source: Getty Images
Monday’s funeral was a fitting final tribute — a room full of the very voices he spent his life discovering, gathered one last time to say goodbye.
