Happy 80th birthday, Diana Ross! Look back at the legendary diva’s illustrious career in photos

Born March 26, 1944, Diana Ross turns 80 in 2024 — and she’s never looked better. The Detroit-born singer shot to stardom along with The Supremes when the group became Motown’s most successful act during the 1960s and one of the word’s best-selling girl groups of all time. In 1970, she left the group and embarked on a successful solo music career with the release of her eponymous debut solo album. Revisit Ross’ illustrious career in photos, starting with her performance during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXX between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 28, 1996.

The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and the Earl Van Dyke Sextet visiting London on March 15, 1965.

Diana Ross pays tribute to the memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on stage at the 27th Annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium January 17, 2000.

Diana Ross at EMI headquarters for a press call to promote the new Diana Ross & the Supremes album, “Love Child,” on Nov. 19, 1968.

Larry Ellis/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Diana Ross poses for photographers in London on Sept. 15, 1973.

Diana Ross sings “God Bless America” before the New York Mets game against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 21, 2001 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The game was the Mets’ first since the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Diana Ross sings at the opening ceremony during the England vs. Australia Rugby League World Cup group A match at Wembley stadium on Oct. 7, 1995.

Diana Ross attends the BMG post-Grammy Awards party at Gotham Hall Feb. 23, 2003 in New York City.

Diana Ross at the MET Gala on April 28, 2003.

Diana Ross and designer Dennis Basso walk down the runway at the Dennis Basso Fur Fashion Show at Cipriani's restaurant May 28, 2003 in New York City.

Diana Ross at the premiere of “The Cell” at the Loews Cineplex in Century City, California, on Aug. 17, 2000.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Diana Ross holds a silver plaque for her single “Upside Down.”

Evening Standard, Getty Images

Diana Ross waves to the crowd during her concert at the Olympia theatre on March 8, 2004 in Paris, France.

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother goes backstage to meet the Supremes, Engelbert Humperdinck, Frankie Howerd and Petula Clark after a Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on Nov. 18, 1968.

Diana Ross during a press conference at London's Inn On The Park Hotel on March 10, 1976.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali and Diana Ross arrive at the world premiere of “Collateral” at the Orpheum Theatre on Aug. 2, 2004.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Diana Ross and Hugh Hefner are seen inside at the 10th Annual Safari Brunch on Oct. 16, 2004 at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California.

Diana Ross, who hosted the 31st NAACP Image Awards, arrives Feb. 12, 2000 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Diana Ross and Beyoncé attend the cocktail reception for the 16th Carousel of Hope presented by Mercedes-Benz benefiting the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 23, 2004.

Diana Ross and Alicia Keys arrive to the American Music Awards on Nov. 14, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California.

Diana Ross performs onstage during the 2004 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Arena on Dec. 8, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tom Selleck and Diana Ross on March 25 1985 in Hollywood during the 57th Annual Academy Awards.

Kanye West and Diana Ross attend the Kanye West and Creative Artist Agency Foundation launch of the Kanye West Foundation for music education in the schools, on Feb. 10, 2005.

Usher and Diana Ross perform onstage at the Clive Davis Grammy Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Feb. 12, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California.

David Beckham, Victoria Beckham and Diana Ross pose at “The David Beckham Academy” launch party at Creative Artists Agency on June 3, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Patti LaBelle and Diana Ross speak during a press conference to announce that a group of prominent artists are getting together to re-record Nile Rodger’s song “We Are Family” on Sept. 22, 2001 in New York CIty.

George De Sota, Getty Images

Diana Ross performs onstage at the 2006 TV Land Awards at the Barker Hangar on March 19, 2006 in Santa Monica, California.

Diana Ross sings during the opening ceremony for the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Aug. 28, 2006.

Diana Ross performs at Wembley Arena as part of her U.K. tour to promote her latest album “I Love You” on May 9, 2007 in London, England.

Jo Hale, Getty Images

Motown founder Berry Gordy, center, poses with Lifetime Achievement Award honoree singer Diana Ross, third from right, and her family arrive at the 2007 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.

(L-R) Diana Ross accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to her by her children Chudney Ross, Evan Ross, Rhonda Ross, Tracee Ellis Ross and Ross Naess, during the 2007 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.

Diana Ross performs onstage at the “Divas With Heart” concert at Radio City Music Hall on May 4, 2008 in New York City.

Roger Kisby, Getty Images

Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton join singers Michael Jackson and Diana Ross while performing “We are the world” on Jan. 17, 1993 at the Lincoln Memorial on the Washington Mall.

CHRIS WILKINS, AFP Via Getty Images

Diana Ross performs at Radio City Music Hall on May 19, 2010 in New York City.

(L-R) Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian, Diana Ross and Evan Ross attend Clive Davis and the Recording Academy's 2012 Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Richard Branson held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Feb. 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.

(L-R) Diana Ross and Jamie Foxx perform onstage at Clive Davis and the Recording Academy's 2012 Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Richard Branson held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Feb. 11, 2012.

Diana Ross recieves her award at the 54th Annual Grammy Special Merit Awards at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Feb. 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

Diana Ross onstage at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on Feb. 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama, with daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama sing a Christmas carol with Diana Ross during the taping of the “Christmas in Washington” television special on Dec. 9, 2012 at the Building Museum in Washington, DC.

MANDEL NGAN, AFP Via Getty Images

Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokie Robinson, Berry Gordy Jr., Diana Ross and Mary Wilson attend the Broadway opening night curtain call on stage for “Motown: The Musical” at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 14, 2013 in New York City.

Neilson Barnard, Getty Images

Diana Ross presents the Dick Clark Award for Excellence to honoree Taylor Swift onstage at the 2014 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.

Diana Ross and daughter Tracee Ellis Ross attend the 2014 American Music Awards.

Diana Ross and the Supremes in a black-and-white photo from 1968.

The Supremes arriving at London Airport (now Heathrow) on March 15, 1965.

The Supremes performing onstage at the Royal Command Performance at the London Palladium, in 1968.

Former President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Diana Ross at the White House in Nov. 22, 2016 in Washington, DC.

Diana Ross in the press room during the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Nov. 19 in Los Angeles, California.

Diana Ross performs onstage during the 2017 American Music Awards.

Popular vocal soul group Diana Ross and The Supremes.

Bronx Mowgli Wentz, Ashlee Simpson, Jagger Snow Ross, Evan Ross, Diana Ross, Leif Naess, Ross Naess, Kimberly Ryan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Callaway Lane and Chudney Ross attend the 2017 American Music Awards.

Diana Ross attends The Costume Institute Gala to celebrate the clothes of Jacqueline Kennedy on April 23, 2001 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

The Supremes at a reception at EMI House in London on Jan. 23, 1968.

Diana Ross posing with a Honorary César during the 1st edition of the Cesar Awards ceremony in Paris on April 3, 1976.

Photo taken on May 11, 1989 shows Diana Ross performing at the Palais des Sports in Paris.

Diana Ross performs at the Palais des Sports in Paris on June 21, 1982.

Diana Ross performs onstage during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

Diana Ross gets help from her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross on June 12, 1995 as she gets ready to ride a camel on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem.

Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder during the Annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1985.

(L-R) Ashlee Simpson, Evan Ross, Diana Ross, and Tracee Ellis Ross attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

The Supremes attend London for their first time on a promotional visit arranged by EMI on Oct. 8, 1964.

Diana Ross performs on the Pyramid Stage during day five of Glastonbury Festival on June 26, 2022 in Glastonbury, England.

Diana Ross performs at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo Spektrum on Dec. 11, 2008.

Diana Ross receives an award from Prince Albert of Monaco during the World Music Awards ceremony on May 9, 1996.

Diana Ross, top left, and her children arrive for the MTV Video Music Awards at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York on Sept. 9, 1999.

Diana Ross poses with Lynda Laurence, left, and Scherrie Payne, right, of the Supremes at a news conference to announce the Return of Love tour.

South African President Nelson Mandela and Diana Ross hold hands as they walk out of Mandelas residence in Johannesburg April 8, 1998.

Diana Ross and actor Anthony Perkins on the set of the film “Mahogany” in Rome, in 1975.

Keystone, Getty Images

Diana Ross walks onto the stage with the Supremes, Lynda Laurence, left, and Scherrie Payne, right, to start the “Return to Love ” tour in Philadelphia, June 14, 2006.

STR New, Reuters

Michael Jackson performs with Diana Ross at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at New York City's landmark Apollo Theater in the Harlem section of Manhattan, April 24, 2002. The star-studded event, which was attended by former President Bill Clinton, was held to kick off the the DNC's nationwide voter registration initiative.

Diana Ross waves to the crowd at London's Wembley Stadium as she performs at the opening of the Rugby League Centenary World Cup on Oct. 7, 1995.

Diana Ross poses with her quadruple platinum award for her “One Woman: The Ultimate Collection” album outside the headquarters of EMI Records in London Oct. 27, 1994.

Greg Bos, Reuters

Diana Ross performs during the opening ceremonies of World Cup '94 at Chicago's Soldier Field June 17, 1994.

Diana Ross receives a platinum record and a French decoration, Feb. 2, 1994.

The Supremes arrive at London Airport (later named Heathrow) to appear on television music shows “Ready Steady Go!” and “Thank Your Lucky Stars,” on Oct. 6, 1965.

Evening Standard, Getty Images

Diana Ross at the premiere of “Eyes Wide Shut” on July 13, 1999.

Brenda Chase, Getty Images