Clive Davis Reacts to Whitney Houston's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

"She'd be touched, grateful. There's no question. She never took anything for granted. I always asked her, 'Are you pinching yourself?' She truly would be touched by this unique and special recognition. It would be very important to her."

In addition to notching a whopping 11 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 throughout her career (and even earning a posthumous No. 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart last year with the Kygo-produced "Higher Love"), Davis points to the trails she blazed in addition to the records she set.

"She was more than an incredibly successful artist -- she had a unique role in breaking down the barriers at MTV. She was really the first female black artist that MTV embraced and was consistent in the devotion they had to what she did."

In addition to celebrating Houston, Davis was happy to see The Notorious B.I.G. among the Rock Hall Class of 2020 inductees as well.

"I congratulate Puffy on The Notorious B.I.G.," he says warmly. "I vividly remember the day when we made our deal with Bad Boy Records. He played me three or four cuts of the then-unknown Notorious B.I.G. It really was on the basis of those cuts and his vision that Biggie was gonna be unique and special that it all turned out. I'm very, very happy for Biggie's family and Puffy. There's no question, very grateful he's being recognized too."

Davis plans on attending the 2020 induction ceremony, which takes place May 2 in Cleveland, with Pat Houston, the executor of Whitney's estate.