Diana Ross, 81, looks ethereal in custom-made flowing white gown as Motown legend opens the Henley Festival
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Charli XCX's wedding ring value 'REVEALED': Brat singer continues to defy showbiz traditions with modest band after donning mini dress and shades to tie the knot with The 1975's George Daniel in low key ceremony
Charli XCX's wedding ring value has been revealed following her low key nuptials to The 1975's George Daniel at Hackney Town Hall on Saturday. The Brat singer, 32, defied showbiz tradition and enjoyed a small ceremony without the spectacle, where she donned a white mini dress and her trademark shades. And now it's been revealed that the couple seemingly carried the low key theme into the bride's wedding ring which has been valued at relatively modest £10K, despite the newlywed's reported £10M fortune. The band seemingly boasted a bold twisted, overlapping design and in platinum it perfectly matched her engagement ring, which is worth £15K. Laura Taylor from Lorel Diomands told MailOnline: 'Charli's wedding band is where she's really made it her own. Rather than going for a traditional band to sit next to the solitaire, or even an eternity band like we're seeing with other celebrities, she's chosen something much bolder'. 'It's chunky and very different to the delicate bands you usually see paired with solitaires. We are starting to see more celebrities choosing bold rings this year, like Dua Lipa and her chunky engagement ring. 'I'd estimate Charli's wedding band to be worth around £8,000 to £10,000, depending on the designer. 'The choice fits perfectly with the rest of her wedding look, as she wore a short white dress and sunglasses to her ceremony, skipping the usual formal bridal style. By pairing a classic engagement ring with a heavier, statement wedding band, Charli's showing you don't have to follow the usual rules. It's a really good example of how you can incorporate your own personal style.' On her big day Charli, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, threw convention to the wind with a leggy white mini dress that she teamed with her trademark sunglasses. Charli and George, 35, put on a very saucy display as they posed for snaps with family and friends after saying I Do and smooched for all to see. 20 of the couple's nearest and dearest were in attendance including The 1975 bandmates Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, however frontman Matty Healy was noticeably absent. Charli was the epitome of style in the chic dress which boasted a plunging boat neckline and draped detailing that she wore with a traditional veil. Slipping her feet into Jimmy Choo heels, the stunner styled her long raven tresses loose and carried a bouquet of white flowers. Meanwhile George wore a dark double breasted suit over a light open collared shirt with a flower, that matched his wife's bouquet, in his button hole. The newlyweds posed for sweet snaps with the songstress' proud parents Jon and Shameera Aitchison. Despite his absence Matty reportedly attended his pal's stag do earlier this week which took place in Ibiza. According to The Sun, the drummer and frontman Matty, 36, flew out to the party island on Tuesday for a short but wild getaway. Charli and George are also said to be planning a lavish wedding in Sicily later this year, after officially tying the knot in London. A source told the publication: 'George has been busy this summer, but his mates were determined to take him on a stag do. 'He flew to Ibiza for a couple of days for a raucous knees-up with his closest pals – including his bandmates – and party girl Charli was all for it.' MailOnline has contacted George and Matty's representatives for comment. The couple, who have been together since 2022, announced their engagement in November 2023. The Sun claimed the couple have spared no expense on the upcoming Sicilian celebration and have reportedly spent close to six figures. The source revealed: 'Charli and George fell in love with Sicily and knew they wanted to get married there. 'It's incredibly secluded and romantic. There will be no expense spared.; it's costing tens of thousands of pounds and visually it will be mesmerising.' It is believed that the duo wanted a 'massive party' with a bar that is open all night long.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Nick Knowles, 62, sends wife Katie, 35, heartwarming message of support as she leaves the house for first time for lunch date after hysterectomy
Nick Knowles has shown his support for his new wife Katie as she managed to leave the house for the first time after undergoing a hysterectomy. The lingerie business owner, 35 - who recently married television presenter Nick, 62 - revealed last week that she had the op after 'surviving' years of 'pain'. She has been at home recovering since the major surgery and took to Instagram on Friday to share an update with fans. Katie revealed she had been experiencing menopause symptoms including hot flushes, and that a self-care day was in order. On Saturday she managed to take it a step further, as she made it out of the house for a lunch date with her supportive husband. Taking to his Story, Nick shared a selfie that was posted by Katie, adding a heartfelt message to his wife. The original photo showed the couple cosying up inside a shop, with Katie writing: 'Well look who made it out the house today' with a heart emoji. The DIY SOS star shared it on his Story, expressing how proud he was of Katie. 'You are doing so well,' he began. 'It's such a huge thing to deal with in so many ways, not just physically. 'I'll be right by your side every step of the way. Proud of you.' After their successful lunch date, Katie shared a video when they got home as she told her fans that she had managed to change into some comfies, calling herself a 'slob kabob'. 'I'm glad I've been out, even though I'm feeling exhausted,' she added. Yesterday, Katie displayed her abdomen bloating from the surgery in one clip, as well as showing where her scar was in the candid video. Katie went on to share in the caption that she had also been suffering from brain fog so 'can't string a sentence together', and revealing she is getting breathless if she does too much. In the caption of the video, Katie continued: ' A little day-in-the-life post-hysterectomy. Tried to wear leggings today to feel like a person…' In a voiceover on the clip, Katie said: 'So today I decided to have a shower. Umm... obviously not the first time I've done this but because I was just a pile of sweat. 'And it's kind of due in part to menopausal symptoms with hot flushes and sweaty ti****s, sweaty upper lips, sweaty back, just sweaty everything. Um and I also have an infection from a fever that I have developed now. Er yeah I have been disgusting. 'So I thought I would push the boat out wash my hair and then it was curly and my daughter brushed the curls out so it was a bit Hermione Granger. So I treated myself to straightening it which wasn't the most comfortable thing to do in all reality because of the stretching but felt so much better knowing that I can leave it a few days now - and theoretically it should be fine.' She added: 'I did try to put normal people clothes on today but as it turns out it wasn't happening because the bloating's still kind of there. We're still there and also putting clothes on that end up going too close to my scars.' In the caption of the video, Katie continued: 'A little day-in-the-life post-hysterectomy. Tried to wear leggings today to feel like a person… lasted 7 minutes before getting back into Nick's boxers and a T-shirt. 'Still bloated, still sore, still spending 90% of the day horizontal. BUT, I got to take off those god-awful surgical stockings!!! Another fun addition to my sans uterus era: brain fog. I can barely string a sentence together or type properly, which is great when you rely on typing for work. 'They didn't remove my ovaries, but they did warn me that with the effects of hormones and even some just post surgery malarkey, that I could experience symptoms. Also now walking with a slight elderly lean and getting breathless after literally anything. I'm such a catch it's lucky that I married him before choosing to do this. 'I've been working from bed, trying to distract myself from the absolute boredom (and the emotional ambush when babies appear on TV). I miss doing things for myself. I miss feeling like me. And the body stuff is rough. I've got another four scars on my stomach, and I just don't really want to look at myself at the moment. 'But today I did my hair and a bit of makeup, just to feel a little more human. And I honestly think it did a lot for my self-confidence, even if it was just for being in the house. I just keep looking to a pain-free future to try and pull myself out of it. 'The love I've had on here has blown me away. Women supporting women. Sharing stories. Saying thank you. 'It's a double edge sword, because on the one hand it's awful to see so many women with such sad and painful stories, but on the other, it has been so wonderful to make what I have gone through and I'm going through feel more normal and understood.' WHAT IS A HYSTERECTOMY? A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a woman's uterus. There are three kinds: The operation is most commonly performed on women between the ages of 40 and 49. More than 20 million American women have had a hysterectomy, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As women approach menopause, the odds that they will develop one of several serious uterine health conditions increases. Doctors may recommend a hysterectomy as a treatment for: fibroids endometriosis uterine (endometrial) cancer chronic uterine pain or bleeding collapsed uterus In some cases, doctors may suggest a hysterectomy as a preventative measure if a woman has significant warning or early signs of developing one or more of these conditions. When necessary, surgeons may also remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes, if these have also been damaged or are at serious risk of damage. The removal of reproductive organs sends a woman's body into menopause, no matter how old she is. This comes with unpleasant side effects like hot flashes, and many women have to start hormone therapy, taking estrogen to balance out their own hormones.
Times
30 minutes ago
- Times
Meet the guitar hero going electric at the Proms
Sean Shibe is one of the most outrageously talented guitarists of the classical music world, able to bridge the divide between electric and acoustic. But that didn't stop some of his audience walking out when he played a 60-minute solo at the Wigmore Hall in 2020. They had been warned: the composer Georges Lentz's Ingwe is meant to be played 'painfully loud'. People wore brightly coloured earplugs. Shibe wore a hot-pink jumpsuit. But London's foremost classical recital space is more accustomed to a Wagner transcription than a wah-wah pedal, and as the music grew, so did the number of empty seats. The reviews, however, were raves: five stars from The Times, for a performance that induced 'a state of near-nauseous confusion mixed with cathartic ecstasy'. For the past decade Shibe has been transforming artistic expectations of the electric guitar. 'Classical guitarists are used to dealing with an instrument where the lightness is its power,' he explains. 'When it comes to the electric guitar the opposite is true — you can add distortion, reverb, whammy bar.' Crucially, you can also be heard above an orchestra. • Ema Nikolovska and Sean Shibe review — an Orlando-inspired concert Such effects are largely unknown in classical music — something Shibe says composers find liberating. His second album, softLOUD, which drew on music first written for Scottish lute and bagpipe, blasted open a new path for classical guitar music. Plenty of guitarists had proved the acoustic instrument could reach beyond its classical soundworld; some, like the jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, have made a compelling case for its amplified sister. But until Shibe no one was doing both. As well as electric guitar he is capable of performing the most light-fingered work from the baroque era. Born in Edinburgh in 1992, Shibe took up the guitar after his mother, a Japanese ceramicist, picked up an inexpensive instrument from a shop near the pottery studio she runs with her husband. His progress was swift. Having been the only guitar student at the City of Edinburgh Music School, he moved to Aberdeen City Music School, going on to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and becoming, at 19, its youngest graduate. At next week's BBC Proms he will perform a new concerto for electric guitar by Mark Simpson, titled ZEBRA (or, 2-3-74: The Divine Invasion of Philip K Dick). Simpson, the composer of an acclaimed violin concerto championed by Nicola Benedetti, was inspired by the sci-fi writer whose books became Hollywood blockbusters such as Minority Report and Blade Runner — even if, Shibe points out, 'Dick's own take was often more gritty, paranoid and hallucinatory'. In 1974 the author attributed a series of visions — featuring Jesus, pink light and ancient Rome — to a spiritual source he referred to as 'Zebra'. • 'Gay music isn't just Kylie — it's Tchaikovsky and Britten too' Shibe is full of praise for the composer, who has also added a drum kit and synthesizer. 'It takes somebody like Mark to recalibrate the expectations we have of the instrument for it to function alongside a symphony orchestra [in this case the BBC Philharmonic and the conductor Anja Bihlmaier]. There are a lot of pieces that introduce the guitar to the orchestra in a hackneyed way.' Shibe cites Yngwie Malmsteen's 1998 Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E flat minor as an example. 'If you're a hypertonal pop musician you can't necessarily play a concerto — and I probably couldn't be in a rock band,' Shibe says. One rare exception is Jonny Greenwood, the Radiohead guitarist who has composed for the Proms and, like Shibe, recorded Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint. 'There are very few Jonny Greenwoods,' Shibe says. True, but there might be even fewer Shibes. A week after the concerto Shibe is the face of one of the BBC Proms excursions to Gateshead — the concert is dubbed 'Sean Shibe and Friends' — in which he will play James Dillon's 12 Caprices in Gateshead. I saw him perform them at the Aldeburgh Festival a few weeks ago, where the sparse melodies held the room transfixed — until we were all jolted back to earth by a message alert. It seemed to come from Shibe's iPad, though he vehemently denies this. In the end it didn't matter: his subsequent performance of Le Marteau sans maître – Boulez's 1955 setting of René Char's surrealist poetry — was far more memorable, folding in and out of itself as the patterns become increasingly complex. • 268 Years of Reverb — an organ epic by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Headlines involving Shibe inevitably invoke the Noughties video game Guitar Hero, in which players mimic rock solos via a console. In September he will open a residency at the Southbank Centre in London with Oliver Leith's Doom and the Dooms, a composition for electric guitar, keyboard, percussion and strings, in which the guitarist performs a concert as part of the titular band — only recast in a classical format. 'It's more of a woozy memory of a rock band,' Shibe says of a style that recalls Leith's opera Last Days, which depicted the last days of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. He'll also perform music by Bach, Thomas Adès and Reich, plus Rodrigo's Aranjuez concerto — a touchstone of the classical repertoire — with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Marin Alsop. His autumn hit list also includes a London Symphony Orchestra performance (Oct 19) conducted by Adès, of Poul Ruders's Paganini Variations. It's the full menu of a modern virtuoso — or a bona fide guitar hero. Sean Shibe performs at the BBC Proms on Jul 22 (Royal Albert Hall, London) and Jul 27 (Glasshouse, Gateshead). Both concerts are live on Radio 3/BBC Sounds
