Diana Ross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diana Ross
Ross performing in 2022
Born	Diane Ernestine Earle Ross (1944-03-26) March 26, 1944 (age 81) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Singer actress
Years active	1959–present
Spouse(s)	Robert Ellis Silberstein ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1977)​ Arne Næss Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 2000)​
Children	5, including Rhonda, Tracee and Evan
Relatives	Barbara Ross-Lee (sister) Arthur Ross (brother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B soul pop disco dance
Labels	Motown RCA EMI Parlophone Decca

Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is a famous American singer and actress. Many people know her as the "Queen of Motown Records". She was the lead singer of a very popular group called the Supremes. They became Motown's most successful group in the 1960s. The Supremes are still one of the world's best-selling girl groups ever. They had 12 number-one pop songs on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

After leaving the Supremes in 1970, Diana Ross started a very successful solo music career. She released many albums, including Diana in 1980. Her songs like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Upside Down", and "Endless Love" all reached number one. This made her the female solo artist with the most number-one songs in the U.S. at that time. She continued to have global hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Diana Ross also became a successful actress. Her first movie role was playing Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). She won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for this role. She was the first African-American actress to get an Academy Award nomination for her first movie. She also starred in Mahogany (1975) and The Wiz (1978).

Billboard magazine called Diana Ross the "Female Entertainer of the Century" in 1976. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide since 1970. She is the only female artist to have number-one songs as a solo artist, in a duet, in a trio, and as part of a larger group. She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has also received many important awards, like the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Early Life and School Days

Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. She was the second of six children. Her mother named her Diane, but her birth certificate mistakenly said Diana. Her family and friends in Detroit always called her Diane.

When Diana was seven, her mother became very ill. Diana and her siblings went to live with their grandparents in Bessemer, Alabama. After her mother got better, they returned to Detroit.

In 1958, when she was 14, her family moved to the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects. Diana went to Cass Technical High School in downtown Detroit. She wanted to be a fashion designer, so she took classes in clothing design and tailoring. She also took modeling and cosmetology classes. In 1960, she worked at Hudson's department store as their first African American bus girl. She also styled hair for her neighbors to earn extra money. Diana graduated from high school in January 1962.

Music Career Beginnings

Joining The Supremes

When Diana Ross was 15, she joined a singing group called the Primettes. Other members included Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. They were the sister group to a male group called the Primes. After winning a talent show, they were invited to audition for Motown Records.

Diana Ross also asked her former neighbor, Smokey Robinson, about auditioning for Motown. He agreed to help them, but only if his group, the Miracles, could hire the Primettes' guitarist. Diana felt this was a fair trade.

The Primettes auditioned for Motown. Berry Gordy, the head of Motown, heard Diana singing and was very impressed. He told them to finish high school first because they were so young. But the group kept coming to Motown's studio every day. They offered to help with recordings, like clapping and singing background vocals.

In January 1961, Berry Gordy agreed to sign the group if they changed their name. Florence Ballard chose the name "Supremes." The other members were not sure about the name at first. On January 15, 1961, the group officially signed with Motown as The Supremes. A year later, they became a trio. In late 1963, they had their first hit song, "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes." At the end of that year, Gordy made Diana Ross the lead singer of the group.

Ross (far right) performing with the Supremes, as lead singer in 1966

Rise to Stardom with The Supremes

In June 1964, The Supremes had their first number-one hit with "Where Did Our Love Go." This started a period of huge success for them. Between 1964 and 1967, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard sang on ten number-one hit songs. The group became very popular in the U.S. and around the world. They were Motown's most successful singing group in the 1960s.

Diana Ross started to be the main person interviewed by the media. She also asked for more pay than the other members. In 1965, she began using the name Diana, which was on her birth certificate.

In 1967, Florence Ballard left the group, and Cindy Birdsong joined. Berry Gordy then changed the group's name to Diana Ross & the Supremes. This made it easier to charge more for performances, as it seemed like a solo star with a backing group. Diana Ross stayed with the Supremes until early 1970.

Ross with the Supremes in 1967

Diana Ross began performing as a solo artist on TV specials in 1968. In mid-1969, Gordy decided that Diana would leave the group by the end of the year. She started recording her own music in July.

Motown's publicity department said Diana Ross discovered the Jackson 5. She introduced the group at several public events. In November, Diana confirmed she was leaving the Supremes. Her song "Someday We'll Be Together" was released as a Supremes song and became their last number-one hit. Diana Ross made her final appearance with the Supremes on January 14, 1970.

Solo Career and Movies

First Solo Successes

Ross as a guest star with football player and actor Rosey Grier, on the Danny Thomas television program Make Room for Granddaddy in 1971

In May 1970, Diana Ross released her first solo album, Diana Ross. It included her famous songs "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". The latter became her first number-one solo song. She released more albums, Everything Is Everything (1970) and Surrender (1971). In 1971, "I'm Still Waiting" became her first number-one song in the UK. Later that year, she starred in her first solo TV special, Diana!, which featured the Jackson 5.

Acting Debut and More Hits

In 1971, Diana Ross started working on her first movie, Lady Sings the Blues (1972). This movie was about the singer Billie Holiday. When the movie came out, Diana Ross received great reviews for her acting. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Actress. The movie's soundtrack also became very popular, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 1973, Diana had another number-one hit in the U.S. with "Touch Me in the Morning". Later that year, she released Diana & Marvin, a duet album with Marvin Gaye, which was a big international hit. In April 1974, Diana Ross became the first African-American woman to co-host the 46th Academy Awards.

Actor Anthony Perkins photographing Ross in the film trailer for Mahogany (1975)

Her second movie, Mahogany, was released in 1975. She starred with Billy Dee Williams and even designed the costumes for the film. The movie was about a fashion designer. Even though the film had some challenges during production, it was a success at the box office. Diana Ross had her third number-one hit with "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)".

In 1976, Diana Ross released her fourth solo number-one hit, "Love Hangover", a popular disco song. She then started her "An Evening with Diana Ross" tour. This led to a show on Broadway and a TV special, for which she won a Special Tony Award.

The Wiz and Later 1970s Music

Her albums Baby It's Me (1977) and Ross (1978) sold well. Around this time, Motown decided to make a movie version of the Broadway play The Wiz. This was an African-American version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Diana Ross convinced the producers to cast her as Dorothy. Michael Jackson was cast as the Scarecrow. Diana and Michael had a dance hit with their song "Ease on Down the Road" from the movie.

The Wiz movie was very expensive to make. When it was released in October 1978, it did not earn much money at the box office. This movie's performance affected Diana Ross's movie career for a while.

In 1979, Diana Ross released The Boss, which was popular with dance audiences. The title song became a number-one dance hit. In 1980, she released her most successful album, Diana. This album included the hits "I'm Coming Out" and "Upside Down", which became her fifth number-one song in the U.S. She also recorded the duet "Endless Love" with Lionel Richie. This song became her sixth and final number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

New Record Label and More Success

Moving to RCA Records

Ross in 1981

At the end of 1980, Diana Ross decided to leave Motown Records after more than 20 years. RCA Records offered her a very large contract, which gave her full control over her albums. Diana Ross signed with RCA on May 20, 1981. This was one of the most expensive recording deals in music history at the time.

In October 1981, she released her first RCA album, Why Do Fools Fall in Love. It sold over a million copies and included hit songs like the remake of the classic "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". She also started her own production company.

In early 1982, Diana Ross sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XVI. On May 6, 1982, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She followed up her album with Silk Electric, which featured the song "Muscles" written by Michael Jackson. This song was another Top 10 hit for her.

Central Park Concert and Later 1980s Hits

The Diana Ross Playground

On July 21, 1983, Diana Ross performed a free concert in Central Park in New York City. The concert was broadcast live around the world. The money raised from the concert was meant to build a playground named after her. During the show, a heavy rainstorm started, and the concert had to stop. Diana promised to perform again the next day, which she did.

Even though there were some challenges with the concert costs, Diana Ross gave a large donation for the project. The Diana Ross Playground was built three years later.

In 1984, Diana Ross released Swept Away. It included "All of You", a duet with her friend Julio Iglesias. This song became an international hit. She also had a hit with "Missing You", a song written by Lionel Richie as a tribute to Marvin Gaye.

Her 1985 album Eaten Alive included the song "Chain Reaction", which reached number one in the U.K. and other countries. Diana Ross also participated in the "We Are the World" charity song in 1985, which sold over 20 million copies.

Return to Motown and Beyond

Back to Her Roots

In 1988, Diana Ross decided not to renew her contract with RCA. She talked with Berry Gordy about returning to Motown. When she learned Gordy was selling Motown, she tried to advise him against it. After the sale, Diana Ross was asked to return to Motown with a share in the company, and she accepted.

That same year, Diana Ross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes. She also recorded the theme song for the movie The Land Before Time (1988), called "If We Hold on Together", which became a number-one hit in Japan.

Her album Workin' Overtime (1989) was not a big commercial success in the U.S., but the title track did well on the R&B charts. Her later albums like The Force Behind the Power (1991) and Take Me Higher (1995) did not achieve major success in America. However, The Force Behind the Power was very popular in the UK, becoming a platinum album.

In 1993, Diana Ross returned to acting in the TV movie Out of Darkness. She received good reviews and another Golden Globe Award nomination for her role. In 1994, a collection of her songs called One Woman: The Ultimate Collection became a number-one hit in the UK.

Diana Ross performed at the opening ceremony of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Chicago. She also performed at the Super Bowl XXX halftime show in 1996. In 1999, she was named the most successful female singer in the history of the United Kingdom charts based on her hit songs. Later that year, she co-starred with Brandy Norwood in the TV movie Double Platinum.

Supremes Reunion Tour

In March 1983, Diana Ross reunited with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong for the TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. There were some disagreements during their performance, which were later edited out of the TV special.

In 1999, Diana Ross and a concert promoter discussed a tour that would include a Supremes part. Diana agreed to a full Supremes reunion tour and invited all living former Supremes members to join. After some discussions, Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence joined Diana Ross for the tour.

The group performed together on TV shows like Today and The Oprah Winfrey Show. The Return to Love Tour started in June 2000. The tour ended earlier than planned, but it received good reviews from many media outlets.

In December 2000, Diana Ross received a Heroes Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. In January 2001, her album Love & Life: The Very Best of Diana Ross became her 17th gold album in the UK.

Later Career and Awards

Ross is applauded by her fellow Kennedy Center honorees as she is recognized for her career achievements by President George W. Bush in the East Room of the White House Sunday, December 2, 2007, during the Kennedy Center Gala Reception. From left to right: singer-songwriter Brian Wilson; filmmaker Martin Scorsese; Ross; comedian, actor and author Steve Martin, and pianist Leon Fleisher.

In May 2004, Diana Ross and her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross appeared on the cover of Essence magazine. In January 2005, Diana Ross performed at the Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope TV concert to help raise money for tsunami victims. She also launched her own makeup collection.

In 2005, Diana Ross recorded a duet with Rod Stewart called "I've Got a Crush on You". She also had another hit duet with Westlife on a cover of her song "When You Tell Me That You Love Me". Diana Ross was honored at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball Weekend, celebrating African-American women in arts and civil rights.

In June 2006, Universal released Diana Ross's album Blue, which had been recorded in 1972 but not released. It reached number two on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Later in 2006, she released her first new studio album in seven years, I Love You. She then went on a world tour to promote the album. In 2007, Diana Ross received the BET Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award and was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Ross in concert in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2007

In 2008, Diana Ross performed at the opening of the US Open tennis tournament. She also headlined the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. In 2010, she started her "More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour". In 2011, she was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

In February 2012, Diana Ross received her first Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. In December 2012, she performed at the White House-hosted Christmas in Washington concert for former President Barack Obama.

In 2013, Diana Ross toured in South America and the United States. In 2014, she received the Ella Fitzgerald Award for her contributions to jazz vocals. In 2015, she began a series of shows in Las Vegas called The Essential Diana Ross: Some Memories Never Fade. In February 2016, she continued her "In the Name of Love Tour". On November 22, 2016, Diana Ross was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.

In June 2017, Diana Ross headlined the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. In November 2017, she received the American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. She performed many of her hits and brought her grandchildren onstage. In December 2017, she launched her first fragrance, Diamond Diana.

In February 2018, Diana Ross started a new series of shows in Las Vegas. In August 2018, she had another number-one hit on Billboard's Top Dance Chart with "I'm Coming Out/Upside Down 2018". She performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2018. In February 2019, The Recording Academy honored Diana Ross at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. Her song "The Boss" was remixed in 2019 and reached number one on Billboard's Top Dance Chart.

In October 2019, it was announced that Diana Ross would perform at the Glastonbury Festival. The festival was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she confirmed she would play in 2022.

Recent Music and Performances

Ross performing live at Longleat in Wiltshire, England, 2022

In May 2020, Diana Ross released Supertonic: Mixes, a collection of her greatest hits remixed. In November 2021, she released her twenty-fifth studio album, Thank You. This album was written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

In May 2022, she released the song "Turn Up the Sunshine", a collaboration with Tame Impala. This song was the main single from the soundtrack album for the movie Minions: The Rise of Gru. On June 4, 2022, Diana Ross was the final performer at the Platinum Party at the Palace, celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. On June 26, she performed live at the Glastonbury Festival 2022.

In November 2022, Diana Ross received a Grammy Award nomination for Thank You. In June 2023, she started "The Music Legacy Tour", celebrating her number-one hits. She performed at London's Royal Albert Hall in October 2023 and April 2024. In June 2024, she participated in a concert celebrating the reopening of the Michigan Central Station.

In May 2025, Diana Ross attended the Met Gala. She announced she was on tour and that her son had encouraged her to attend. She made headlines for her dress, which had an 18-foot train with the embroidered names of her children and grandchildren. Earlier in 2025, she also appeared at the Grammy Awards and the BRIT Awards.

Family Life

Diana Ross has been married twice and has five children. She had her eldest child, Rhonda Suzanne Silberstein, in August 1971. Two months later, Diana married music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein. He raised Rhonda as his own daughter. Diana told Rhonda that Berry Gordy was her biological father when Rhonda was 13.

Diana has two more daughters with Robert Ellis Silberstein: Tracee Joy Silberstein (born 1972) and Chudney Lane Silberstein (born 1975). Diana and Robert divorced in 1977.

Diana met her second husband, Norwegian shipping businessman Arne Næss Jr., in 1985, and they married the next year. She became a stepmother to his three older children. They had two sons together: Ross Arne (born 1987) and Evan Olav (born 1988). Diana and Arne divorced in 2000. Diana considers Arne the love of her life. Arne Næss Jr. passed away in a mountain climbing accident in 2004. Diana remains close with her three stepchildren.

Diana Ross has seven grandchildren.

Legacy and Influence

In 1982, Diana Ross received her first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Apart from this star, Ross also received a second for her work with the Supremes.

Diana Ross has inspired many artists, including Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Madonna. Many of her songs have been covered by other artists or used as samples in new songs. For example, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was featured in the movie Chicken Little.

Several creative works have been inspired by Diana Ross's career. The character of Deena Jones in the play and movie Dreamgirls was inspired by her. Motown: The Musical is a Broadway musical about Berry Gordy's creation of Motown Records and his relationship with Diana Ross.

As a member of the Supremes, her songs "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "You Can't Hurry Love" are among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

As the lead singer of the Supremes and as a solo artist, Diana Ross has had 18 number-one songs. She is the only female artist to have number-one songs as a solo artist, as part of a duet, as a member of a trio, and as part of a larger group. Her voice from "I'm Coming Out" was sampled in the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 number-one hit "Mo Money Mo Problems".

Billboard magazine named Diana Ross the "female entertainer of the century" in 1976. She is one of the few artists to have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for her solo work and one for her work with the Supremes. The Diana Ross Playground in Central Park was named in her honor in 1986.

Berry Gordy asked Diana Ross to introduce the Jackson 5 to the public. Because of this, many people mistakenly thought Diana Ross discovered the group. Gordy decided this misunderstanding was good for business, so it became part of Motown's marketing plan for the Jackson 5. Their first album was even called Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5. Diana Ross became a good friend and mother figure to Michael Jackson.

In 1985, Studio 4 at Kaufman Astoria Studios was named the Diana Ross Building to honor her contributions to bringing the studio back to life through her involvement in The Wiz. In 2006, Diana Ross was one of 25 African-American women honored at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball for their contributions to art, entertainment, and civil rights. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Diana Ross among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Awards and Nominations

On November 16, 2016, Diana Ross was one of 21 people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States. In 2023, Supremes co-founders Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard received the Grammys' Lifetime Achievement Award. Diana Ross became the first woman to win this award twice, as she also received a solo honor in 2012.

Discography

Filmography

Diana Ross at the Academy Awards in 1990

Television Appearances

Stage Performances

• An Evening with Diana Ross (1976)

Tours

Headlining

• The Music Legacy Tour (2023)
• Beautiful Love Performances: Legacy 2024 (2024)
• Diana Ross: A Symphonic Celebration (2025)

Co-headlining tours

• Superconcert of the Century (with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras) (1996-97; 1999)
• Return to Love Tour (with former members of the Supremes) (2000)

Residency shows

See also

In Spanish: Diana Ross para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
• List of Billboard number-one singles
• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs