Diana Ross is an American singer and songwriter who was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 26, 1944, to Diana Ernestine Earle Ross, the daughter of Ernestine (née Moten) and Fred Ross. Until she was seven, Diana lived in the far north of Detroit with singer Smokey Robinson as a neighbor. Diana’s mother became seriously ill and the children lived with relatives in Alabama until she recovered. At the age of 14, his family moved to a housing project in Detroit where he began a 4-year college prep school. She specialized in topics related to fashion design. She also took modeling courses. When she was 15, Diana joined a girl group called Primettes and began her music career.
When she was born, a clerical error made when signing the birth certificate meant that she was officially registered as being called Diane Ernestine Earle Ross. This was later rectified to Diana, although many of her friends and family still call her Diane to this day.
Diana Ross has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards. She was finally awarded one in 2012 for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Diana Ross has never won a Grammy Award for her music.
In the 1960s Diana Ross became the lead singer of the group The Supremes and had 12 number one singles in the United States. Only The Beatles were able to rival their success during their time period on the charts.
Diana Ross performed in the half-time show at the 1996 Super Bowl.
Some of The Supremes major hits were Baby Love, Where Did Our Love Go, Stop! In the Name of Love, You Can’t Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, and Love Child.
When Ross attended Florence Ballard’s funeral in 1976, she was booed by fans gathering outside.
Diana Ross’ first solo album, released in 1970, was titled Diana Ross. On the album were the hit songs Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, and Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand.
She almost starred in the blockbuster film ‘The Bodyguard’!
Diana Ross’ second solo album was released in 1973, titled Touch Me in the Morning. The title track was her second #1 hit solo song, following Ain’t No Mountain High Enough from her first solo album.
Diana Ross once suffered from an eating disorder called Anorexia Nervosa.
Diana Ross’ third solo no. 1 hit was Theme from Mahogany from the Mahogany Soundtrack.
Diana Ross was once arrested in an airport. The incident, which took place in 1999, involved her grabbing the breast of one of the airport’s guards.
Diana Ross’ first gold certified album was the 1979 album The Boss.
Diana Ross was arrested for DUI in 2002. This was while she was receiving treatment for substance abuse at a rehabilitation facility in Tucson, Arizona.
Diana Ross; final no. 1 hit was Endless Love. It was her sixth no. 1 hit in total.
Diana Ross once worked as a secretary for Motown Records before she was signed with them as a singer.
In 1970 Diana Ross began her solo career. McNally Smith College of Music created The Diana Ross Performance Scholarship in 2004 for a full four-year scholarship for an outstanding student.
She was the inspiration behind the play and the 2006 romantic comedy musical drama movie ‘Dreamgirls’.
Diana Ross ventured into an acting career with the movie Lady Sing the Blues in 1972, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award.
Ross’ second husband, Arne Nass Jr., died after falling off a mountain in 2004.
Diana Ross was named Female Entertainer of the Century by Billboard magazine.
She is a spokesperson for National Children’s Day.
The Guinness Book of World Records named Diana Ross as the most successful female artist in history in 1993.
Diana Ross is also on the board of a national charity program called ‘A Better Chance’.
As a solo artist and member of The Supremes Diana Ross has sold more than 100 million records around the world.
Her first appearance on television was playing the role of a nun in a 1968 episode of ‘Tarzan’ in which she appeared with the other Supremes.
In 2014 Diana Ross was awarded the Ella Fitzgerald Award at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal for her ‘extraordinary contribution to contemporary jazz vocals’.
She was honored by the McNally Smith College of Music in 2004 when they established the Diana Ross Performance Scholarship.
In 2015 Diana Ross began to perform in Las Vegas at The Venetian Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, where she had nine shows.
She has an estimated personal net worth of $250 Million!
Diana Ross dated Kiss lead singer Gene Simmons from 1980 to 1983.
Ross’ great-great-grandmother trained to become a midwife.
Diana Ross has 5 children and has been married twice.
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