Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American pop singer and actress who first gained international fame as the leader of the vocal group the Supremes. Her professional journey started in 1959 when she and her friends created the Primettes, which was later renamed the Supremes. After signing with Motown, the Supremes, consisting of Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard, had 12 number one hits, including "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love." In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, which hinted at Ross's solo career that she began in 1970. Ross also developed a film-acting career in the 1970s, beginning with a starring role as blues singer Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). In 1988, Ross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Supremes. She also received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2012 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

What is Diana Ross famous for?

Diana Ross is an American singer and actress who first gained international recognition as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, and later as a solo artist. Ross began her professional career in 1959 when she and some friends formed the Primettes, which later became the Supremes. The Supremes had 12 number one hits, including "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love." In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, which suggested Ross's solo career that she would launch in 1970. Ross also developed a film-acting career in the 1970s, beginning with Lady Sings the Blues (1972). With the Supremes, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Ross received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2012 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Which music group did Diana Ross first sing with?

Diana Ross began her professional music career in 1959 when she and some friends from her neighborhood formed a pop-soul group called the Primettes. After signing with Motown Records in 1960, the group changed its name to the Supremes . The group originally consisted of Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Barbara Martin; however, after Martin's departure, the remaining trio of Ballard, Ross and Wilson went on to score five U.S. number one hits in a row between 1964 and 1965. In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes.

What are some of Diana Ross's most popular songs?

Diana Ross achieved international fame as the leader of the Supremes and later as a solo artist. With the Supremes, she had 12 number-one hits, including "Baby Love" (1964), "Stop! In the Name of Love" (1965), and "Someday We’ll Be Together" (1969). As a solo artist, some of Ross's popular songs include "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" (1970), "Love Hangover" (1976), "Upside Down" (1980), and "Endless Love" (1981), a duet with Lionel Richie. She also starred in films such as Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975), and The Wiz (1978).

How has Diana Ross influenced music and culture?

Diana Ross , born Diane Earle on March 26, 1944, is an American singer and actress who began her career in 1959 with friends in a pop-soul group called the Primettes, which later became the Supremes . As the leader of the Supremes and later as a solo artist, Ross achieved international stardom and had 12 number-one hits on the pop charts, including "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love". Ross helped to establish Motown as a leading record label and paved the way for other African American artists to achieve mainstream success. In 1988, the Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Ross received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2012 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Diana Ross

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Images

Diana Ross sings into a microphone on stage, wearing a black outfit and statement necklace, with voluminous curly hair, during the US Open opening ceremony.

Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross of the Supremes pose closely together in sparkling dresses, looking toward the camera in a black and white portrait.

Lobby card for the 1978 film The Wiz showing Michael Jackson as Scarecrow, Diana Ross as Dorothy, Ted Ross as Lion, and Nipsey Russell as Tinman posing in costume against a stylized city skyline.

Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell as Tinman, and Ted Ross as Lion stand together in costume on a yellow-tiled set for The Wiz.

Quick Facts

Original name:: Diane Earle

Born:: March 26, 1944, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. (age 82)

Awards And Honors:: Grammy Award; Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016); Kennedy Center Honors (2007); Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1988)

On the Web:: Detroit Historical Society - Encyclopedia of Detroit - Diana Ross (Oct. 31, 2026)

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Diana Ross

American singer and actress

Also known as: Diane Earle

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 31, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who is Diana Ross?
Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American pop singer and actress who first gained international fame as the leader of the vocal group the Supremes. Her professional journey started in 1959 when she and her friends created the Primettes, which was later renamed the Supremes.

After signing with Motown, the Supremes, consisting of Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard, had 12 number one hits, including "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love." In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, which hinted at Ross's solo career that she began in 1970.

Ross also developed a film-acting career in the 1970s, beginning with a starring role as blues singer Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). In 1988, Ross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Supremes. She also received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2012 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
2 Britannica Sources
1. the Supremes: Breakup
2. Diana Ross
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is Diana Ross famous for?
Diana Ross is an American singer and actress who first gained international recognition as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, and later as a solo artist.

Ross began her professional career in 1959 when she and some friends formed the Primettes, which later became the Supremes. The Supremes had 12 number one hits, including "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love." In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, which suggested Ross's solo career that she would launch in 1970.

Ross also developed a film-acting career in the 1970s, beginning with Lady Sings the Blues (1972). With the Supremes, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Ross received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2012 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
2 Britannica Sources
1. the Supremes: Breakup
2. Diana Ross
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Which music group did Diana Ross first sing with?
Diana Ross began her professional music career in 1959 when she and some friends from her neighborhood formed a pop-soul group called the Primettes. After signing with Motown Records in 1960, the group changed its name to the Supremes. The group originally consisted of Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Barbara Martin; however, after Martin's departure, the remaining trio of Ballard, Ross and Wilson went on to score five U.S. number one hits in a row between 1964 and 1965. In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some of Diana Ross's most popular songs?
Diana Ross achieved international fame as the leader of the Supremes and later as a solo artist.

With the Supremes, she had 12 number-one hits, including "Baby Love" (1964), "Stop! In the Name of Love" (1965), and "Someday We’ll Be Together" (1969).

As a solo artist, some of Ross's popular songs include "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" (1970), "Love Hangover" (1976), "Upside Down" (1980), and "Endless Love" (1981), a duet with Lionel Richie. She also starred in films such as Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975), and The Wiz (1978).
2 Britannica Sources
1. the Supremes: Solo projects
2. Diana Ross
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
In what movies has Diana Ross acted?
Diana Ross is an American singer and actress who first gained international recognition as the leader of the vocal group the Supremes. Ross also developed a film-acting career in the 1970s, beginning with a starring role as blues singer Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). She continued with Mahogany (1975), for which she also recorded the hit theme song "Do You Know Where You’re Going To," and The Wiz (1978).
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How has Diana Ross influenced music and culture?
Diana Ross, born Diane Earle on March 26, 1944, is an American singer and actress who began her career in 1959 with friends in a pop-soul group called the Primettes, which later became the Supremes.

As the leader of the Supremes and later as a solo artist, Ross achieved international stardom and had 12 number-one hits on the pop charts, including "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love". Ross helped to establish Motown as a leading record label and paved the way for other African American artists to achieve mainstream success. In 1988, the Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Ross received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2012 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
2 Britannica Sources
1. the Supremes: Solo projects
2. Diana Ross
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.) is an American pop singer and actress who achieved international stardom, first as leader of the vocal group the Supremes and later as a solo artist.

Ross’s professional career began in 1959, when she joined several neighborhood friends to form the pop-soul vocal group the Primettes. The group was renamed the Supremes after signing a recording contract with Motown late the following year. Consisting of Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard (replaced in 1967 by Cindy Birdsong), the Supremes achieved 12 number one hits on the pop charts, including “Baby Love” (1964), “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1965), and “Someday We’ll Be Together” (1969). In 1967 the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, foreshadowing Ross’s solo career, which she launched in 1970.

Beginning with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” from her debut album Diana Ross (1970), Ross enjoyed more than a decade of chart-topping success in multiple categories. “Love Hangover” (1976) and “Upside Down” (1980) were among her pop hits, while her duet with the Commodores’ Lionel Richie, “Endless Love” (1981), topped Billboard magazine’s pop, rhythm and blues (R&B), and adult contemporary charts. Ross also developed a film-acting career in the 1970s, beginning with a starring role as blues singer Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972) and continuing with Mahogany (1975), for which she also recorded the hit theme song “Do You Know Where You’re Going To,” and The Wiz (1978).

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USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood

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Diana RossAmerican entertainer Diana Ross, 2006.

After riding a wave of hits into the mid-1980s, Ross saw her commercial fortunes begin to wane. Much of her work showed a stylistic shift from pop and R&B toward disco, and the bulk of her albums were either rereleases or rerecordings of earlier material. In 2006, however, she issued I Love You, a compilation of her own interpretations of love songs by various artists, and she embarked on a vigorous concert tour the following year to promote the album. Despite her virtual absence from the charts, Ross remained a popular concert draw into the early 21st century, propelled by her enduring status as one of the preeminent musical performers of her time. With the Supremes, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Ross received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2012 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Ross had several children, including Tracee Ellis Ross, a noted actress.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston.

Diana Ross

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