As one of the most legendary artists of all time, it’s no surprise that Diana Ross has lived an extraordinary life. From her days as the lead singer of The Supremes to her massively successful solo career, Ross has made her mark on music history. But her personal life has been just as fascinating as her career!
Ross has been married twice and has had multiple high-profile relationships over the years. Her love life has always drawn immense public curiosity, thanks to her status as a trailblazing celebrity. Even today, people can’t seem to get enough of the juicy details about Diana Ross’s wild ride in romance.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Ross’s romantic history and the two men she’s walked down the aisle for.
From her long affair with Motown head Berry Gordy to her recent revelation of a fling with Smokey Robinson, it’s a love story for the ages. Strap in, because we’re spilling all the tea on Ross’s marriages, affairs, and family life!
Diana’s Steamy Affair with Berry Gordy Sets the Tone
Long before she became a mega solo star, a young Diana Ross was the lead singer of the most successful Motown act of the 1960s. The Supremes were dominating the charts, but behind the scenes, Ross was getting up close and personal with Motown CEO Berry Gordy.
In 1965, Ross and Gordy began a clandestine affair while Ross was becoming huge. For years, Gordy had been known as a bachelor playboy at Motown, but he clearly only had eyes for Diana.
Their passionately intense relationship lasted several years, though they had to keep it secret since Gordy didn’t usually mix business with pleasure.
In 1971, their hush-hush romance produced a daughter, Rhonda Ross Kendrick. But with The Supremes still at the top of their game, Ross and Gordy decided to hide the fact that they’d had a child together.
Just two months after baby Rhonda was born, Ross suddenly married music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein. Plot twist!
Moving on With Husband #1, But Still in Love With Gordy
In January 1971, amid her red-hot affair with Berry Gordy, Diana shocked the world by marrying Silberstein, a white Jewish businessman who was managing her at the time.
The decision to tie the knot was largely influenced by the fact that she was two months pregnant with Berry Gordy’s child, further adding to the complexities of her situation.
Rhonda Suzanne Silberstein, born in August of the same year, was raised by Robert Ellis Silberstein as his own daughter. This marital union later bore two more daughters, Tracy Joy Silberstein (better known as actress Tracee Ellis Ross) in 1972 and Chudney Lane Silberstein in 1975.
But having Gordy’s baby had complicated things forever. Ross just couldn’t shake her feelings for her former lover and the marriage crumbled.
Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein eventually divorced in 1977 but maintained a cordial and amicable relationship, regardless of the complexities that surrounded their time together.
However, while Diana Ross’s romantic involvement with Berry Gordy was a well-known fact, it’s crucial to highlight that specific details regarding her emotional state and motivations during her marriage to Silberstein remain relatively undisclosed in historical records.
Moving on Again – A Fling With Gene Simmons and Husband #2
Newly divorced, Ross moved on to a brief romance with KISS frontman Gene Simmons in the early 1980s.
But soon she met Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Næss Jr, and sparks flew. In 1985, just eight years after splitting from husband #1, Ross tied the knot again – this time with Næss.
Her second marriage meant Ross became an instant stepmom. Arne already had three kids from his previous relationship – Katinka, Christoffer, and Leona. Ross embraced the ready-made family, and she and Arne went on to have two sons together, Ross Arne Næss and Evan Olav Næss.
It seemed Ross had finally found lasting love, but it wasn’t meant to be. After nearly 15 years of marriage, Ross and Næss divorced in 2000. After Næss’s tragic death in a 2004 climbing accident, Ross was single again but she still called Arne the love of her life.
Smokey Robinson Drops a Bombshell Affair Revelation
In a 2023 interview, the famous Motown singer Smokey Robinson shared a surprising revelation about Diana Ross. He said they had a romantic relationship that lasted for about a year back in the 1970s.
What’s really surprising is that Diana Ross was married to Robert Silberstein at that time, and Smokey was married to someone else too.
Smokey explained that their close friendship while working together turned into something more, even though they were both married to other people. Diana Ross eventually decided to end their romantic involvement. Smokey still had a lot of respect and admiration for her, even after all these years.
This revelation came as a shock to many Diana Ross fans who had no idea about this hidden part of her love life. It seems like Smokey Robinson wasn’t the only Motown artist that Diana Ross had a romantic connection with, making her life in the world of music even more interesting.
Inside Diana’s Untraditional Family Life Today
With two divorces under her belt, Diana Ross has never been one for tradition. Today, she’s built a sprawling, modern family that includes her five kids and several grandchildren. Ross also remains close with both her former husbands, Silberstein and Næss.
Now in her late 70s, Ross still keeps up with her large extended family between concert tours and vacations. She’s paved her own path by maintaining an unconventional but fiercely loyal family circle.
After two divorces and several torrid affairs, Ross proves that lifelong romance isn’t necessary to build a beautiful life. With five kids from two marriages, Ross has an amazing family, even if marriage wasn’t forever.
Diana Ross’ Legend Will Always Burn Bright
No matter what was happening in her love life, Diana Ross always forged ahead with her phenomenal music career. She wasn’t willing to give up on love altogether just because marriage was complicated for her.
Through the ups and downs, Ross became an undisputed music icon who’s still worshipped today. Her decades of hits with The Supremes and as a solo artist cement her status as total legendary.
But what’s equally impressive is how Ross handled her personal affairs – with grace, class, and courage. She went through two divorces in the public eye and had tumultuous relationships. But she never gave up on love or family.
In the end, Diana stayed devoted to her kids above all else. Despite marriage woes, Ross always put family first, and she remains close with all her children and even exes. That’s inspirational!
So though her wild love life drew plenty of attention and scandal, Ross emerged as strong as ever. She’s a survivor who triumphed over heartache and public scrutiny to raise an amazing family. And that’s why she’ll always be fabulous Miss Ross to her millions of forever fans.
The Takeaway: Diana Did Love Her Way
Looking back at the rollercoaster that was Diana Ross’s love life, there’s one thing that stands out – she always did it her way. Though Ross got plenty of flack for having affairs, divorces, and biracial relationships, she followed her heart unapologetically.
Ross didn’t settle for a stifling or unhappy relationship just because it was traditional or expected. She took risks in romance that broke barriers, even when society judged her. And she always prioritized her kids’ well-being, even after splitting from their fathers.
So while her love life seemed turbulent from the outside, Ross handled it with grace and courage. She paved her own path that worked for her, without compromising her principles or dreams.
That’s the real lesson from Diana Ross’s unconventional romantic history. She proved you can have a successful family and fulfilling relationships while refusing to settle. Ross found passion on her own terms.
So the next time you read some gossip about Diana’s marriages, remember she’s a trailblazer who inspires us to live boldly. Ross danced to the beat of her own drum in romance and everything else.
Diana Ross: An Icon Who Did Romance Her Way
As we’ve seen, Diana Ross is clearly much more than just a music legend. She’s also a risk-taking rule breaker when it comes to marriage and love. Ross followed her bliss during wild affairs with Gordy and Smokey, plus two unconventional marriages.
While Ross experienced the same relationship struggles many face, she handled them with fierce grace. Though two husbands came and went, her devotion to her family never wavered. Now a mother of five and grandmother, Ross still holds her sprawling family close.
So at the end of the day, Diana Ross’s fascinating love life shows she’s triumphant at everything she does – whether it’s writing #1 hits or raising a beautiful family. She’s paved her own path that inspired generations of women to live boldly.
Sure, Ross has made some risqué choices when it comes to men. But she owns those decisions unabashedly rather than conforming to what society expects. And isn’t that the mark of a true legend? Diana Ross certainly marches to the beat of her own drum!
So next time you’re daydreaming about Ross’s unconventional marriages and torrid affairs, remember she’s a pioneer. No man can ever tie down the fabulous Miss Ross – she’ll just keep following her passion and heart.
About the Author
Team Guitar Top Review Talk about Guitars! We are a group of friends that bonded over their shared love of playing guitar. We all have different backgrounds and experiences with music, but we share a passion for writing about the things that we love.