TRIBUTE BAND

During the filming of the star-studded Grammy tribute to the late, great Aretha Franklin, industry icon Clive Davis unspools a spellbinding anecdote to fellow Exec Producer Ken Ehrlich that was briefly interrupted by a series of coded messages from the secret Grammy committee.

The CBS special, Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration for the Queen of Soul, features such guests as Smokey Robinson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Celine Dion, Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., SZA, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Chloe X Halle, Janelle Monáe and BeBe Winans. It's due to air on 3/10.

As evidenced by the pics below, Clive later belted out "Nessun Dorma" with Recording Academy boss Neil Portnow, and Ken huddled with Exec Producer Doug Davis, who is of course the son of famed label exec Walter Yetnikoff.