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Diana Ross’s journey from Detroit’s neighborhoods to international stardom is a story of talent, determination, and trailblazing success. Rising to fame as the captivating lead of The Supremes and later as a solo superstar, Ross not only dominated the music charts but also reshaped fashion, film, and female empowerment in entertainment. Her influence spans decades, inspiring artists and fans across the globe.
Here are 50 remarkable facts tracing Diana Ross’s extraordinary career and lasting impact:
1. Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan; her birth certificate mistakenly listed her name as “Diana” instead of the family’s intended “Diane,” which remained in use until 1965.
2. As a child, she grew up near Smokey Robinson and later traded The Supremes’ guitarist Marv Tarplin to him in exchange for a Motown audition.
3. At just 15, Ross joined the Primettes, the group that would become The Supremes, after being scouted through her connection to Paul Williams of The Primes.
4. Motown founder Berry Gordy was so impressed by Ross’s rendition of “There Goes My Baby” that he paused to listen and advised the group to finish school before signing.
5. In their early years, Ross handled the group’s hair, makeup, costumes, and sewing, reflecting her budding fashion design skills from Cass Technical High School.
6. The name “The Supremes” was chosen by Florence Ballard because it was the only option not ending in “ette,” despite Ross’s initial concerns about confusion with male groups.
7. By late 1963, Berry Gordy appointed Ross as the group’s lead singer, launching their first hit, “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes.”
8. Between 1964 and 1967, The Supremes with Ross at the helm achieved 10 U.S. number-one singles, all of which also reached the UK Top 40, establishing them as Motown’s premier act.
9. Ross quickly became the media’s focal point, often fielding interviews meant for her bandmates, highlighting her emerging star power.
10. In 1967, after Florence Ballard’s departure, the group was renamed “Diana Ross & The Supremes” to capitalize on her fame and increase fees.
11. The pressures of fame led Ross to suffer from anorexia nervosa; she collapsed onstage in Boston in 1967 and required hospitalization.
12. Ross began performing solo on specials like TCB and G.I.T. on Broadway as early as 1968, setting the stage for her 1970 departure from The Supremes.
13. She is credited with introducing the Jackson 5 on The Hollywood Palace, though this was largely a Motown publicity move; their debut album was titled Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.
14. Michael Jackson regarded Ross as a mother figure, and she mentored him during his early Motown years.
15. Ross’s final Supremes performance took place on January 14, 1970, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, closing a chapter that included 12 number-one singles.
16. Her debut solo single, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” topped charts in 1970 and earned her first Grammy nomination.
17. In the UK, her early solo success included her first number-one hit, “I’m Still Waiting,” followed by multiple Top 20 singles within two years.
18. Ross’s portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972) won her a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination, making her the first African-American actress nominated for a debut film role.
19. The Lady Sings the Blues soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 and sold two million copies.
20. In 1973, she became the first entertainer invited to Japan’s Imperial Palace for a private audience with Empress Nagako.
21. Ross co-hosted the 1974 Academy Awards as the first African-American woman in the role, alongside John Huston, Burt Reynolds, and David Niven.
22. She designed the costumes for her 1975 film Mahogany, although production challenges led Berry Gordy to take over as director.
23. Despite mixed reviews for Mahogany, its theme song “Do You Know Where You’re Going To” became her third U.S. number-one single in 1976.
24. Her fourth solo number-one, “Love Hangover” (1976), showcased her ability to shift from soulful ballads to upbeat disco seamlessly.
25. Ross’s 1976 Broadway stint at the Palace Theatre earned her an Emmy nomination for a TV special where she transformed into icons like Josephine Baker using innovative special effects.
26. In 1977, she received a Special Tony Award for her Broadway concert, an honor rarely given to non-theater performers.
27. Ross convinced producers to cast her as Dorothy in The Wiz (1978), altering the character from schoolgirl to schoolteacher, with Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow.
28. The duet “Ease on Down the Road” from The Wiz earned a Grammy nomination.
29. Though The Wiz was the most expensive musical film at $24 million, it flopped at the box office, impacting future Black-led Hollywood projects.
30. Ross guest-hosted The Tonight Show in 1979 and captivated audiences with her HBO special Standing Room Only.
31. Her 1980 album Diana, produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, included the hits “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down.”
32. “Endless Love” with Lionel Richie (1981) became her sixth and final solo number-one on the Hot 100.
33. In 1981, Ross left Motown for a record-breaking $20 million RCA deal with full production control.
34. Michael Jackson wrote and produced “Muscles” for her 1982 album Silk Electric, a Top 10, Grammy-nominated hit.
35. Her 1983 Central Park concert drew massive crowds, was cut short by rain, and led to a $250,000 donation for the Diana Ross Playground.
36. Ross’s 1984 duet “All of You” with Julio Iglesias became an international success.
37. “Missing You” (1984), a Lionel Richie tribute to Marvin Gaye, reached the Top 10 after Gaye’s passing.
38. Her 1985 album Eaten Alive, produced by Barry Gibb, featured the international number-one hit “Chain Reaction.”
39. She participated in “We Are the World” (1985), which sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
40. Ross returned to Motown as part-owner in 1988 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Supremes.
41. “If We Hold on Together” (1988) from The Land Before Time became a major international hit.
42. She headlined the 1991 Royal Variety Performance before Queen Elizabeth II, her second such honor.
43. Her 1993 TV film Out of Darkness earned a Golden Globe nomination.
44. The 1994 compilation One Woman: The Ultimate Collection sold quadruple platinum in the UK.
45. At the 1994 FIFA World Cup opening, she staged a penalty kick that became a viral moment after missing the goalposts.
46. Ross performed at the Super Bowl XXX halftime show in 1996.
47. She was named the most successful female singer in UK chart history in 1999.
48. At the 1999 MTV VMAs, she accidentally touched Lil’ Kim in one of the show’s most talked-about moments.
49. Ross reunited with The Supremes for the 2000 Return to Love Tour, which was canceled due to low ticket sales despite positive reviews.
50. In 2023, she became the first woman to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award twice—once solo in 2012 and again with The Supremes—cementing her legacy as a music icon and mentor.
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