Michael Bublé.
Yet again, Grammy voters overlooked Diana Ross, missing out on a chance to honor her for the album of her career, Thank You.
Look, it’s certainly exciting that Ms. Ross is being honored with a second Grammy Lifetime Achievement Honor, this one for her time with The Supremes. It’s well-deserved — not just for Ms. Ross, but for her late groupmates. Seeing the daughters of Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard accept the award was beautiful.
But, it’s natural for fans to feel disappointed, because it really felt like this was Diana’s year — a chance to see her finally collect a competitive Grammy that not only celebrated great work, but also her impact on the industry. Many of the artists who will win awards tonight owe their careers to Diana Ross. This isn’t an overzealous fan talking, and it’s not hyperbole; Ms. Ross is a trailblazer, plain and simple. Even those who aren’t fans of the singer can’t possible deny her accomplishments, and the doors which she helped kick down (in her heels and sequins, no less).
Thank You is no less a great album because it’s not a Grammy winner. It will stand the test of time because it’s a true reflection of the artist’s thoughts and feelings. Diana Ross poured her heart into the album. She delivered in a big way. It’s a rewarding work that only gets better with repeated listens.
And let’s be clear: Ms. Ross is probably way too busy enjoying time with her family to care much about the awards. As she Tweeted back in December, “To be nominated for a Grammy is a blessing. My real blessing has been all of you. So once again & always I say THANK YOU”
Well, Ms. Ross…once again and always, we say it right back.
THE DIANA ROSS PROJECT 
I think it’s SHAMEFUL that the Grammys didn’t get it right his time and finally award Diana Ross her Grammy! This would have been the perfect time – a deeply personal, beautiful album and the best way to say THANK YOU to her for her incredible career as well.
Lawrence I couldn’t agree more 😦
I am still so upset.
I know…you know I’m trying to be kind and positive, because honestly, I think that’s how Ms. Ross would want it. But we all know she deserves to have MULTIPLE Grammys by now. She should have won last night.
Amen!!! It’s beyond disgraceful – and THANK YOU was the perfect way to get it right.
It would have righted so many of the disappointments of the past and been the perfect ending to her story. I’m never going to get over it 😦
I agree Paul. I am more than disappointed. This is an injustice. Frankly the Grammys and I are done.
Disappointment is beyond an understatement. And this was very likely her last chance. I’m too disappointed to even watch the Grammys tonight 😦
She should have WON 13 Grammys by now!! This is such a travesty.
Thank you is an amazing piece of work. Produced under difficult circumstances and yet so positive and so personal. Working with state of the art producers. Totally committed to the whole project.A fantastic gift to her myriad of fans. Top quality stuff. Doesn’t need a Grammy.
I can’t say that I’m surprised. A travesty.
Thank you to Paul for trying to put a positive spin on this but the Grammys are a bit of a joke – Bonnie Raitt wins song of the year – totally ridiculous.
I know. To be honest, my first draft was not very kind — but then I took a step back and decided to do the “Diana Ross” thing and focus on the positive. Not that she’ll ever see this post, but I wanted to write something I thought she might approve of. Trust me…I’m not over it, either. The Grammy voters messed up.
Lawrence, I’m still not over Endless Love losing Best Duo or Group to the Manhattan Transfer’s remake of the Boy From New York City in 1981. That was beyond ridiculous!!
Amen!! How on earth did that happen?? Endless Love at the very least should have won several Grammys for Diana and Lionel. And she wasn’t even nominated for Missing You?!
I’m taking the Opray position. I remember her asking Miss Ross if it bothered her that she is mischaracterized or overlooked (as in Grammys). Diana Ross replied” Not really”. Ms. Winfrey replied: “Well it bothers me”. It bothers me too even more than I anticipated.
I have to go with Oprah on this one. It is a travesty that Diana has not received a Grammy by now. Why weren’t the Supremes honored during the telecast? Insulting all the way around. How does the voting process take place because it needs to be investigated?
I think every black female nominated won a Grammy on Sunday except Diana Ross – even Viola Davis. I love Viola Davis but c’mon!!!!
Yes. You are correct! So obviously the Grammy Blue Ribbon panel doesn’t like Diana Ross. Investigation needed? Absolutely! How can it be in the 65 years that she has recorded music nothing was worthy of recognition?
Looking over her list of nominations, I would say her most outrageous losses were: 1. Love Hangover losing the Best R&B Female Performance to Natalie Cole’s Sophisticated Lady; 2. Endless Love losing the Best Duo or Group Performance to Manhattan Transfer’s Boy From New York City; 3. Upside Down losing Best R&B Female to Stephanie Mills’ Never Knew Love Like This Before (this is a great song but Upside Down is an all-time classic) and 4. Thank You losing to Michael Buble. Thoughts from the group?!
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-02-16/honoring-the-man-behind-gustavo
(This is the letter to the editor that I wrote just published this week in the LA Times re: The Grammys and Diana Ross).
Justice for Diana Ross
I found Mikael Wood’s suggestion that after losing album of the year again that Beyoncé should boycott [“Beyoncé Should Boycott Grammys,” Feb. 7] rather ridiculous.
The Grammys have gone out of their way to award her — 32 Grammys — which is wonderful for her.
My takeaway from this year’s broadcast is another travesty. The legend Diana Ross — with 18 beautiful No. 1 songs to her credit (12 as lead singer of the Supremes and then six as a solo artist) — has never won a single Grammy. Yes, they gave her an honorary award for her solo work in the past and another honorary Grammy this year for the Supremes — though the show didn’t even announce that on TV.
Diana Ross paved the way for so many others with her incredible talent. Frankly, Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child exist because Diana Ross — first with the Supremes and then on her own — blazed the trail for everyone to follow.
If anyone deserves 32 Grammys, it’s Diana Ross. But even if the voters this year didn’t choose to award “Thank You” — one of the most beautiful and personal albums of her career — her status as icon is secure.
Lawrence Stern
Great article!
How do we forward this to the Grammy Blue Panel / Voting Committee? It is insulting that she has never win.
Thank you! I was glad they published it today 🙂 I wanted to tweet it to the Grammys but can’t send the entire letter to the editor on twitter due to the length – maybe there is an email address for Grammys we could use?
Beautiful letter. I agree about Beyoncé, I’m not crying any tears for her. Sadly, I don’t think Diana Ross will ever win a competitive Grammy. That being said, I do think we need to push to get her inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. Again, she is being tragically overlooked – how can we do that?!
Take a look at this page
https://www.change.org/p/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-ms-ross-deserves-to-be-separately-inducted-into-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame
Thank you William!! And yes, let’s do that!
Recently I re-watched her TV-special „Red Hot Rhythm and Blues“. Her role as Birdy Pickett, her vocals, the red thread of the script – still impressive. And yet it earned her just another nomination, for an Emmy. EGOT – except for the Tony Award, nomination after nomination. Made me think of the Love Child lyrics „ … always second best…“
But we know better!
Yes, I think Smokey’s interview might have been a nail. I don’t know about the Grammy’s voting schedule – but this interview at that time was totally inappropriate. Does he need to produce headlines about things that happened 60 years ago?
Drdonnie 1964: In my memory Miss Ross responded to Oprah „I know the fans are upset, but they shouldn’t be“
But we are!
At least this year she made it into the Rolling Stone‘s list „200 Greatest Singer …“ (as a female at position 57), while in 2009 she was totally ignored – whatever the criteria were then and now.
The internet is full with „Best of performances“, listing her – last her wonderful a cappella rendition of the National Anthem at Super Bowl.
Bottom line though in my opinion: Her US reputation seems to have been shattered for decades. And her thin lipped reaction to the Supremes‘ Lifetime Grammy didn’t help either…
Sorry, Paul. I know your blog is only about Miss Ross‘ music, but I had to write this.
I love your comment!! We must look at the political landscape that holds Diana Ross back from receiving the true recognition she deserves. I thought that Smokey’s comment was inappropriate and its timing suspicious. I thought the question was about her legacy of music, and Smokey’s response was to talk about the affair they had!!!??? Why Smokey? Why would you choose this moment when Diana was getting some respect why would you need to bring her down? YES, It cost her this Grammy and a spot of honor for the Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony. I also blame Mary Wilson, who has been bashing Diana since 1983.
I firmly believe that Mary Wilson’s book/bad mouthing torpedoed Ross’ chart career in the United States.
I doubt Smokey saying or not saying something would prevent Diana from getting a Grammy and if so what was the reason for her not winning the other 12 nominations? His interview was with some small nickel and dime podcast that I’m sure no one noticed but Diana fans. He was definitely doing it for publicity and threw his lifelong friend under the bus to do it. As if anyone cared about who he cheated with over 60 yrs ago. The thing I didn’t like about it was that he won’t be blamed…but she will be by folk who just itch to find something to hate her about. It will give them something to chew on for awhile….but they don’t realize that their dislike of Diana only made her a bigger star in the end. Btw Smokey looked “casket ready” with all that hair dye. If Beyonce has 32 Grammies it indicates that they are not worth much. I guess she uses them for door stops.
Robinson’s interview was published after voting had already closed.
You’re right. And what gets me out of all of this bashing she has endured for some four decades, Diana never has a negative word to say about any of them. Never.
She never washed dirty linen in public.
DIANA ROSS HIGHEST-PAID SINGER IN THE WORLD
Diana Ross led People With Money’s annual list of the “100 highest paid singers” released on Thursday.
According to People With Money (3/3/23) Diana Ross topped the list of top 10 highest paid singers for 2023 earning an astonishing $46 million between February 2022 and February 2023, a nearly $20 million lead over her closest competitor.
This may not be true. When I read further in the article it stated a bunch of stuff about her I dont think is true. Like her owning a sports team….
My previous post might be inaccurate. I read further into the article which I came across when searching for the revenue numbers from her European tour. The article said she owed a sports team and a string of burger joints.
The category threw me a bit, if I’m honest. I thought the traditional pop category was a for records that featured pre-rock pop, standards, or the Great American Songbook. She might have had a better chance in a different category.
Still, it’s a great album.
And the Grammy Goes To….. Part II
Was the single ” Turn Up The Sunshine” nominated? It got good reviews and airplay, and it did chart. There is a category for songs for media- film. Did they nominate this song? Can this song be selected for the upcoming Grammys 2024? Just asking.