Halle Bailey, Summer Walker, Coco Jones Honored at Pre-Grammy High Tea Party

R&B darlings Halle Bailey, Summer Walker and Coco Jones celebrated their Grammy nominations in a lavish way — at a high tea party at a luxurious West Hollywood residence.

As music industry players stood poolside, where synchronized swimmers performed and violinists played, the singers were honored on Friday by Femme It Forward, the female-led music and entertainment company founded by Heather Lowery in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment.

“I want to say that I continue to be inspired by us. Looking at us, women, and all the ways we shine, we are resilient. I feel like we are so innovative, and we continue to pave the way for ourselves for future generations,” said Jones, who is nominated for five Grammys. “And I want you all to know that I’m watching, I’m inspired, and there is so much room for us to shine.”

The performer, who had her breakthrough as a teen actress on the Disney Channel film Let It Shine and currently stars in the Peacock series Bel-Air, is nominated for best new artist, while her No. 1 hit “ICU” is nominated for best R&B song and best R&B performance. Jones’ debut project, What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe), is up for best R&B album, and her collaboration with Babyface called “Simple” is nominated for best traditional R&B performance.

Bailey, who is on a winning streak thanks to her recent roles in The Little Mermaid and The Color Purple, earned her first solo Grammy nomination this year — best R&B song for “Angel.” She was previously nominated for five Grammys for her work with her sister as Chloe x Halle.

Sunday’s Grammys also marks a major moment for Walker. She was previously nominated for album of the year for her appearance on Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, but after years of releasing successful songs and albums, she earned a nomination for her own work this year. She is competing for best R&B album with Clear 2: Soft Life EP.

“Success never comes easy, and for most of us in the room — certainly myself — we have to work at least twice as hard as everyone else. There is part of me that always feels like I am at square one, no matter how long I have been doing this,” said Lowery, who established Femme It Forward in 2019. “I am saying this because I am not alone, and I know that many people in this room know exactly what I am talking about.”

Attendees at Friday’s party included Grammy-winning singer LeToya Luckett, rapper Rapsody, R&B performer BJ the Chicago Kid, and singer and Real Housewives of Potomac star Candiace Dillard Bassett.

The 2024 Grammys will air live on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday.