The legendary Diana Ross turned 80 on Tuesday and her second eldest child – Tracee Ellis Ross – shared a touching tribute detailing her many achievements both on and off stage.
The 51-year-old nepo-baby created an 80-second montage video featuring 80 ‘incredible’ pictures of the Detroit-born R&B diva, which was set to her 1988 song If We Hold on Together.
‘Did you know that from 1976 to 1985 (Rhonda was born ’71, me ’72, & Chudney ’74), my mama @dianaross put out an album a year, did multiple tours, produced and starred in a variety of TV specials, shot Mahogany and The Wiz, produced her legendary 1983 Central Park concert with an estimated 800,000 attendees,’ Tracee wrote on Instagram.
‘When the first night of the show got rained out, she chose to pay for and re-do it the next night. [She also] left Motown, purchased an entire floor of a prestigious Fifth Avenue building, bought an estate outside of New York, and an office building where she where she manufactured Diana Ross Pantyhose and other merchandise, and other huge personal life moments?’
Ross (born Tracee Joy Silberstein) continued: ‘This was at a time when women couldn’t apply for credit or serve on a jury, and didn’t have access to birth control but could get fired for being pregnant. Mind blown!’
The legendary Diana Ross (L, pictured in 2004) turned 80 on Tuesday and her second eldest child – Tracee Ellis Ross (R) – shared a touching tribute detailing her many achievements both on and off stage
By the end of the 1970s, Diana had lost her mother and had three little girls to raise all while having ‘a huge iconic career on her shoulders with no manager and no partner.’
‘She was also waking us up for school (she is the best waker-upper), having family dinner and bath time, recording while we slept, planning our birthday parties, play dates, doctor’s appointments, settling arguments between siblings – you know, all the mom stuff,’ the American Fiction actress wrote.
‘Amidst shattering records, breaking glass ceilings, and setting a new bar for style and glamour, we, her children, were always her priority. As I often say, “Diana Ross” the beloved global icon is legendary but she doesn’t hold a candle to my mama.’
Tracee – whose animated movie Jodie was just dumped by MTVE Studios – is the only one of Ross’ five children to never marry or have children.
The twice-divorced grandmother-of-seven welcomed Ross and her 48-year-old daughter Chudney during her six-year marriage to music exec Robert Ellis Silberstein, which ended in 1977.
Diana’s eldest child – daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick – reposted several fans’ birthday tributes via Instastory including one captioned: ‘Happy 80th birthday to The Boss @dianaross!’
Ross welcomed the 52-year-old motivational singer during her six-year romance with Motown founder Berry Gordy, which ended in 1971.
The newly-appointed Saint Laurent brand ambassador – who boasts 4.1M social media followers – shared a vintage video of herself performing a live rendition of her 1992 song That’s Why I Call You My Friend in honor of her special day.
The 51-year-old nepo-baby created an 80-second montage video featuring 80 ‘incredible’ pictures of the Detroit-born R&B diva, which was set to her 1988 song If We Hold on Together
Tracee wrote on Instagram: ‘Did you know that from 1976 to 1985 (Rhonda was born ’71, me ’72, & Chudney ’74), my mama @dianaross put out an album a year, did multiple tours, produced and starred in a variety of TV specials, shot Mahogany and The Wiz, and produced her legendary 1983 Central Park concert with an estimated 800,000 attendees?’
Ross (born Tracee Joy Silberstein) continued: ‘This was at a time when women couldn’t apply for credit or serve on a jury, and didn’t have access to birth control but could get fired for being pregnant. Mind blown!’
By the end of the 1970s, Diana had lost her mother and had three little girls to raise all while having ‘a huge iconic career on her shoulders with no manager and no partner’
The American Fiction actress wrote: ‘Amidst shattering records, breaking glass ceilings, and setting a new bar for style and glamour, we, her children, were always her priority. As I often say, “Diana Ross” the beloved global icon is legendary but she doesn’t hold a candle to my mama’
The twice-divorced grandmother-of-seven’s eldest child – daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick – reposted several fans’ birthday tributes via Instastory including one captioned: ‘Happy 80th birthday to The Boss @dianaross!’
Diana – who boasts 4.1M social media followers – shared a vintage video of herself performing a live rendition of her 1992 song That’s Why I Call You My Friend in honor of her special day
Ross’ Instagram post received happy birthday greetings from Andy Cohen, Jody Watley, Estelle, Juicy J, and Patricia Field
The newly-appointed Saint Laurent brand ambassador’s blended brood of five also includes two sons – Ross Næss, 36; and Evan Ross-Næss, 35; (pictured December 26)
Evan (pictured Monday) cryptically told People last month: ‘My mom’s 80th birthday is coming up. I’m not able to say where yet, but it will be something to be remembered. I think she’s going to go all in, which is exciting’
Diana will next bring her 16-date Diana Ross: Beautiful Love Performances Tour to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL on May 8
Diana’s Instagram post received happy birthday greetings from Emmy-winning producer Andy Cohen, Grammy-winning singer Jody Watley, Grammy-winning singer Estelle, Grammy-nominated rapper Juicy J, and Emmy-winning costume designer Patricia Field.
Ross also mothered two sons – Ross Næss, 36; and Evan Ross-Næss, 35 – during her 14-year marriage to Norwegian shipping magnate and mountaineer Arne Næss Jr., which ended four years before his 2004 death.
‘My mom’s 80th birthday is coming up. I’m not able to say where yet, but it will be something to be remembered,’ Evan cryptically told People on February 14.
‘I think she’s going to go all in, which is exciting.’
The Turn Up the Sunshine singer – who gets 7.4M monthly listeners on Spotify – will next bring her 16-date Diana Ross: Beautiful Love Performances Tour to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL on May 8.
Diana has received many accolades throughout her seven-decade career including being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (twice).
Ross – who’s sold 100M records – has won a Special Tony Award, two Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The honorary César Award winner was 15 years old when she joined the Primettes, which eventually transformed into the Motown girl-group The Supremes, and they scored 12 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1959-1970.
