Biography
Who is Diana Ross?
Early life and real name
Diana Ross was born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. Her mother named her Diane, but a mistake on the birth certificate recorded her first name as Diana. She grew up in Detroit with her parents and five siblings. During her youth, she attended Cass Technical High School, where she participated in various extracurricular activities and studied clothing design and modeling. She graduated from the school in January 1962.
When Diana was a child, her family temporarily moved to Alabama after her mother contracted tuberculosis. After her recovery, the family returned to Detroit and later lived in the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects. As a teenager, she worked as a bus girl and provided hairdressing services for neighbors to earn extra income.
The Supremes and Motown success
In 1959, Diana joined a vocal group called the Primettes, which later signed with Motown Records after changing their name to the Supremes. Berry Gordy signed the group in January 1961. By late 1963, Diana became the lead singer of the group. The Supremes achieved unprecedented success during the 1960s, becoming Motown's most successful act and one of the best-selling girl groups in history.
The group scored numerous number-one hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including Where Did Our Love Go. Diana performed with the group through the 1960s until she departed to start her solo career in 1970. In 1988, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes.
Solo career and acting
Following her departure from the Supremes, Diana started on a highly successful solo career. She released her debut solo album in 1970 and recorded multiple top ten albums and chart-topping singles, such as Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Touch Me in the Morning, and Upside Down. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide as a solo artist.
Diana also achieved recognition as an actress. Her first film role was playing Billie Holiday in the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues. This performance earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination, making her the first African-American actress to receive an Oscar nomination for a debut film performance. She also starred in Mahogany and The Wiz.
Awards and personal life
Throughout her long career, Diana has received numerous honors and awards. She received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. She has been married twice, to Robert Ellis Silberstein and Arne Næss, Jr., and has children, including Tracee Ellis Ross and Evan Ross.
Birthday and age
Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944, which makes Diana 82 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Diana shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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