American singer and actress, best known for her work with the Supremes. She has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has received numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and a Tony award.
The first time she performed publicly was at the Bessemer Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where her maternal grandfather pastored and raised her and her siblings. She began singing in the choir at the age of nine.
As a member of the Primettes, she was discovered by music manager Milton Jenkins in 1960, and was signed to Motown in 1963. She was later named lead vocalist in The Supremes, which also included Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson.
She had a string of hit singles with the Supremes, and was one of Motown's most successful female artists. After her departure from the group in 1970, she became a solo artist, achieving success with songs written by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.
Her 1980 album Diana was a massive success, featuring the hits "I'm Coming Out" and "Upside Down". She also became a popular singer overseas.
Lady Sings the Blues — her first feature-length film and an adaptation of the Billie Holiday biography – was a critical and commercial success. It earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Her 1985 album Eaten Alive featured the singles “Chain Reaction” and “Experience,” both of which reached number one in the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and Ireland. In 1996, she was named a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
