Diana Ross, 81, looks ethereal in custom-made flowing white gown as Motown legend opens the Henley Festival

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Diana Ross looked ethereal as she kicked off this year's Henley Festival with a performance on Wednesday evening.
The American icon, 81, had been booked to grace the stage at the British festival after performing a series of dates across the UK on her own tour earlier this month.
And Diana proved age is just a number as she put on an incredible show featuring some of her greatest Motown records including Stop! In the Name of Love, Chain Reaction and I'm Coming Out.
The Detroit-born songstress initially took to the stage in a sensational white dress as she performed in front of thousands of adoring fans.
She later changed into an eye-catching glitzy black number, while flailing an extravagant golden cloak around with her on-stage.
Diana kicked off her British tour on June 22 at Birmingham 's BP Pulse Live before performing a further five shows, finishing at London's 02 arena last week.
Ahead of the tour Diana revealed she was planning a host of dazzling outfit changes in order to wow fans.
All of the gowns she's worn on tour, including the two Diana donned at this week's Henley Festival, have been custom-made for the singer, who has personally designed each one with the help of a seamstress.
She too collaborated with the designer on the eye-catching gown she wore at the Met Gala earlier this year, which paid tribute to her children.
The American singer has eight grandchildren and five children, including her daughter Rhonda, 53, who often travels with her on tour.
Diana looked sensational in the floor-grazing white gown complete with a feather-boa-trimmed cape on the evening, which marked her first appearance at the event in 20 years.
Determined to pay homage to all her children and grandchildren on fashion's biggest night of the year, Diana had all their names sewn onto the glamorous gown.
'My son Evan and a young designer, Ugo Mozie, and I collaborated on the gown and cloak that I wore, we wanted something meaningful,' she explained.
'The 18-foot train stretches across generations with the names of my adult children and grandchildren beautifully embroidered on it, it's beaded and has crystals— the details celebrate my family and our love.'
In a later interview with The Mirror, the 81-year-old gushed about the importance of family.
'My family is really my greatest joy and blessing,' she said.
'Rhonda travels with me on tour. My five children really take care of their mum.'
Diana shares Rhonda with Motown legend Berry Geordy, with the pair welcoming her in 1971.
Later that same year, she married her first husband, music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein, and they had two more daughters: Tracee, 52, and Chudney, 49.
She split from Robert in 1977 and went on to marry Norwegian mountaineer Arne Naess Jr. in 1986. The former couple welcomed sons Ross, 37, and Evan, 36.
Born in Detroit's Brewster-Douglass Housing Project, America's first federally funded housing for African Americans, Diana was one of six children and grew up singing at family parties and in a Baptist church gospel choir.
But her life changed forever when she met Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson in early 1959.
The three girls, along with Betty McGlown, formed The Primettes, an all-girl singing group.
The trio auditioned for the fledgling Motown label, and in January 1961, they were eventually signed as The Supremes.
By 1965, they had racked up five consecutive number-one hits with popular tunes such as Baby Love and Stop! In the Name of Love.
However, in 1967, the band's name changed to Diana Ross and The Supremes before she went solo three years later.