We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Diana Ross, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more interesting facts about the singer, songwriter, and actress that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: She Has Been Nominated for 12 Grammys. And amazingly, she has only won one! She was nominated for her involvement in “Baby Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and “Ain’t no Mountain High Enough,” among other notable songs and productions. She won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Number Seven: She Was Named Female Entertainer of the Century. She earned this distinction in 1976, and it certainly held true through 1999. Ross is absolutely not a stranger to the spotlight. She has also won the Legendary Female award from the Capitol Gold Legends Award in 2003.
Number Six: She Is Philanthropic. Ross has been given so much, and she also gives back. In 1983, Ross performed a free concert in New York City’s Central Park through a terrible storm that caused a lot of damage. She even agreed to help pay for the park’s repair several years later.
Number Five: She Wrote a Song for Marvin Gaye. Ross’ song, “Missing You,” was written in memory of her friend Marvin Gaye. She revealed this piece of information during an interview on American Idol in 2002.
Number Four: She Dated Gene Simmons. Between the years of 1980 and 1983, Ross dated the Kiss member with the infamously long tongue.
Number Three: She Has Her Own Broadway Character. In the acclaimed broadway production and, later, film, Dreamgirls, the character of Deena Jones was fashioned after her. Her part was played by none other than Beyonce in the movie
Number Two: She Is the Last Surviving Cast Member of The Wiz. Since Lena Horne passed away in 2010, Ross is the last surviving principal cast member of the original production of The Wiz. Other notable characters who have now passed away include Michael Jackson and Nipsey Russell.
Number One: She Still Performs. Ross might not be in the media the way she used to, but she still does the occasional performance. She even performed with her daughter, Tracee, in Las Vegas last month!