Diana Ross's Life in Photos

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1944: A Young Diana Ross

Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944. She was the second eldest of six children for her mother Ernestine and father Fred Ross. Ross grew up in Detroit, Michigan and started singing as a teenager, which eventually led to her discovery.

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1959: Her First Group

When Diana Ross was in high school, she was asked to join the Primettes, the all-female counterpart to the popular singing group the Primes. The group consisted of Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Barbara Martin.

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1961: A Record Deal

After an introduction to a Motown Records executive, the group caught the eye of founder Berry Gordy, then signed a record deal with the label in 1961. They officially changed their name to the Supremes not long after, and became a trio when Barbara Martin dropped out.

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1963: The Supremes

One of the group's first songs, "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes," shot to number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 and it became clear the group had massive potential.

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1963: Growing in Popularity

Around this time, the Supremes began touring and making appearances on television shows. Here, they perform with Sammy Davis Jr. on a TV special.

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1964: A Number One Hit

In the early '60s, the Supremes began working with Motown's writing group Holland–Dozier–Holland. The collaboration resulted in their first number one hit, "Where Did Our Love Go?"

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1965: A Big Follow-Up

The group promptly proved that their first hit was no fluke, following it up with four more consecutive number one hit songs.

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1965: A Romantic Relationship

Diana Ross's relationship with Motown producer Berry Gordy turned from professional to romantic in 1965. The couple continued to work together while dating and were in a relationship for several years.

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1966: More Hits

The Supremes's released another hit song, "You Can't Hurry Love," in 1966, which also earned a number one spot on the charts.

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1966: Motown's Top Performer

Throughout the '60s, the group became one of Motown's biggest and most successful groups. Here, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and Diana Ross perform in their classic matching outfits in their hometown of Detroit.

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1966: An International Tour

In 1966, the group traveled to Japan as part of an international tour. Ross wears a bright blue crepe pencil skirt and silk blouse for the press event at their hotel in Tokyo.

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1967: A Big Change

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1967: Diana Becomes a Star

Since the group's inception, former member Florence Ballard had been seen as the showrunner amongst the women. Ballard not only chose the name the Supremes, but also sang lead vocals on many of their first songs. After her departure, Motown changed the group's name to Diana Ross and the Supremes and Ross became the clear lead vocalist in the band.

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1968: A Motown Collabortion

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1968: Getting Into Acting

Diana Ross (right) got her first taste of acting in 1968 when she and her fellow singing partners guest-starred on the television show, Tarzan, as a group of nuns from a convent.

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1969: The End of the Supremes

By the late '60s, the group started to stray from their classic matching ensembles and began to show more individualism in their appearances. Ross remained the clear lead singer and started dressing in more distinct outfits for performances.

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1969: Diana Ross Goes Solo

Diana Ross left the Supremes to pursue a solo career in 1969. In 1970, she released her first solo studio album, which housed the hit single "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

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1971: Getting Married

After ending her on again, off again relationship with Berry Gordy, Diana Ross married her music business manager Robert Ellis Silberstein on January 20, 1971.

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1971: Her First Child

Diana Ross gave birth to Rhonda Suzanne Silberstein seven months later on August 14, 1971. Although Robert Ellis Silberstein raised Rhonda as his own, her biological father was Berry Gordy. Ross didn't tell her daughter about her biological father until she was 13 years old.

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1972: A Starring Role

Diana Ross pivoted into acting in 1972, landing her first starring role in Lady Sings the Blues. Ross also released a soundtrack for the film of the same name, which was a hit.

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