Diana Ross

Season 13, Episode 1305

Original Airdate: February 19, 2007

James Lipton and the students of the Actors Studio are on a high note with the special two hour episode of “Inside the Actors Studio: Diana Ross.” Ross, a versatile performer ranging from music to movies and Broadway, began her career with the formation of a doo-wop quartet, The Primettes later to be named, The Supremes. Later, Ross starred as late jazz singer Billie Holiday in the Motown produced movie “Lady Sings the Blues” which earned her a Golden Globe for “Best Newcomer” and an Academy Award nomination for “Best Actress.” Ross will grace “Inside the Actors Studio” stage performing a compilation of hit songs including “Baby Love” and “Do You Know Where You Are Going.”

Host James Lipton sits down with the legendary actress and delves into her life and career, which the Golden Globe winning “Dreamgirls” is loosely based. In addition, Ross will grace the stage to perform a compilation of hit songs including “Baby Love” and “Do You Know Where You Are Going” along with songs from her current album “I Love You.”

During her wide-ranging interview with Lipton, Ross reveals how she handled fame at the age of 14; what life was like with her former manager Berry Gordy and her critically acclaimed role in “Lady Sings The Blues,” among other topics. The following are excerpts from the interview.

Best known as the lead singer of the popular 1960s singing group The Supremes, Ross was born in Detroit, Michigan, the second of six children. Ross started singing in the gospel choir of a Baptist church and at age 14, she formed a vocal group, “The Primettes,” with friends Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Barbara Martin. Later, Martin left the group and the remaining three girls inked a deal with Motown Records and were renamed The Supremes. Ross became the lead signer of the group and they were renamed “Diana Ross and the Supremes.” From 1965 to 1969, The Supremes had a string of #1 records.

In late 1969, Ross left the group to begin a solo career. Ross' first two songs reached #1 on both the pop and R&B charts. She later won the title role in the Billie Holiday biopic “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972), which was extremely successful at the box office, and had the distinction of being nominated for an Academy Award for her first film. The movie's soundtrack reached #1 on the U.S. charts. Ross later starred in “Mahogany” (1975) and “The Wiz” (1978). She was also nominated for a Golden Gobe for her role in the TV movie “Out of Darkness” and won a Tony Award for her one-woman show on Broadway. Ross recently released her first album in over six years, I Love You. The new album proved to be a comeback of sorts, achieving Hot Shot Debut status on the Billboard 200 by debuting at no. 32, and giving Diana her first Top 40 album on that chart since Swept Away, over two decades earlier.