In a moment that has captivated the music world, legendary singer Diana Ross has finally clinched her first competitive Grammy Award at the age of 81. After a remarkable career spanning over six decades and 12 prior nominations, the Recording Academy has at last recognized one of music’s most influential voices with a competitive win—an honor many fans and critics believe was long overdue.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Ross began her rise to fame in the 1960s as the lead singer of The Supremes, Motown’s trailblazing female group. Under her leadership, The Supremes became a global sensation, scoring 12 number-one hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with timeless tracks like “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Their success transformed the music landscape and made them the most successful female group in Billboard history.
When Ross embarked on her solo career in 1970, her star only rose higher. Her self-titled debut album featured the chart-topping single “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” a powerhouse performance that demonstrated her vocal range and emotional depth. Over the following decades, she continued to release hit after hit, selling over 100 million records worldwide and captivating audiences with her magnetic presence on stage.
Ross’s influence is unmatched in the music industry. She is the only artist to achieve number-one Billboard hits as a solo performer, as part of a duet, within a trio, and in an ensemble. This unique distinction, along with her 18 total number-one singles across various groupings, solidifies her as a force of nature in pop music. Billboard named her the “Female Entertainer of the Century” in 1976 and ranked her as the 30th greatest Hot 100 artist of all time.
Despite her staggering success, Ross’s relationship with the Grammys has been curiously unbalanced. Though nominated 12 times, she had never won a competitive Grammy. In 2012, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a nod to her iconic contributions—but fans and critics alike noted the absence of a competitive win as one of the Recording Academy’s most glaring oversights. That changed at the 2025 ceremony, where Ross’s decades of brilliance were finally rewarded.
Ross’s talents extend far beyond music. Her portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday in the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress—an extraordinary achievement for a music artist crossing into film. She later starred in the films Mahogany and The Wiz, proving her versatility and commanding presence in Hollywood.
One of the most iconic moments of her career came in 1983, when she performed in New York’s Central Park before an estimated 800,000 fans. Even a torrential storm couldn’t stop her; she famously returned the next day to complete the concert, embodying the resilience and devotion that has defined her legacy.
Now, with a Grammy win finally added to her accolades, Diana Ross’s legend is more complete than ever.
