Diana Ross Celebrates 75th Birthday With Incredible GRAMMYs Performance
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Diana Ross performs onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Music icon Diana Ross celebrated her 75th birthday Sunday with a showstopping performance on the 61s annual GRAMMYs stage.
Before Ross took the stage, GRAMMY’s host Alicia Keys reminded the audience of some of her incredible accomplishments in her decades-long career.
Ross has had “42 number one songs, 91 singles and 59 albums,” Keys noted. “Her magic has not only touched music, but also fashion and television, and she became a movie star in her own right, beginning with her Oscar-winning performance as Lady Day, Billie Holiday, in Lady Sings The Blues.”
Then, Ross’ nine-year-old grandson, Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick, took to the stage to sing his grandmother’s praises in an adorable moment.
“Thank you Miss Alicia for all the wonderful things you said about my grandmother,” he said. “She is amazing and young people like me can look up to her for her independence, confidence and her willingness to be her unique self.”
It's official: @DianaRoss' grandson has the cutest #GRAMMYs performance introduction of the night. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/tITfJMnKOc
— CBS (@CBS) February 11, 2019
Ross then took the stage in a show-stopping red gown, telling the audience that throughout her life, there has “always been music and its power.”
Ross kicked off the performance with her song “The Best Years of My Life” as her family sang along in the audience before leading the audience in an emotional rendition of “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand).”
“Together we have no limits,” she told the audience during the performance. “There’s only success ahead. And you can lead the way, learn – dream, unlock new doors. All is possible.”
To conclude the performance, in true diva form, Ross finished by wishing herself a (well-deserved) happy birthday.
How we feel on our birthday! cc: @DianaRoss #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/bmsPD3MJfg
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) February 11, 2019
