The Evolution of Diana Ross

Happy birthday to a true music icon!

The Evolution of Diana Ross\r  - Before the Bawse, there was the Boss. No, not Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross. Today, March 26, is her 68th birthday. But even after all these years, no one's touching her accomplishments: landmark songs and albums, landmark movie roles, and landmark success. (Can you say 100 million records sold worldwide?) Whether onstage or on camera, solo or with a group, she still reigns Supreme. Click on to take a look back at just some of her legendary accomplishments.\r\r\r(Photo:  Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - Before the Bawse, there was the Boss. No, not Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross. Today, March 26, is her 68th birthday. But even after all these years, no one's touching her accomplishments: landmark songs and albums, landmark movie roles, and landmark success. (Can you say 100 million records sold worldwide?) Whether onstage or on camera, solo or with a group, she still reigns Supreme. Click on to take a look back at just some of her legendary accomplishments.\r\r\r(Photo: Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

The Evolution of Diana Ross\r  - Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit — a Motown girl from day one.\r\r\r(Photo: Diana Ross)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit — a Motown girl from day one.\r\r\r(Photo: Diana Ross)

The Evolution of Michael Ross\r  -  \rRoss started out as a member of The Primettes, which also included Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown. Around 1960, Ross approached her former neighbor Smokey Robinson and lobbied him to audition at the label he was signed to, Motown Records. The rest is history.\r\r\r (Photos: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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The Evolution of Michael Ross\r - \rRoss started out as a member of The Primettes, which also included Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown. Around 1960, Ross approached her former neighbor Smokey Robinson and lobbied him to audition at the label he was signed to, Motown Records. The rest is history.\r\r\r (Photos: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The Supremes - The much ballyhooed 2002 tour Return to Love, which was billed as a reunion of Diana Ross and all other former members of the Supremes, hit a major snag when the two other members of the "classic" Supremes lineup, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, refused to participate. Ross performed 14 dates with two lesser known former members, Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence, but the promoter canceled the remaining 16 dates after disappointing sales. (Photo: Andrea De Silva/LANDOV/REUTERS)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - Under their new deal with Motown, The Primettes were renamed The Supremes and soon became a trio, dropping Barbara Martin, who had replaced McGlown, in the first of the group's contested personnel changes. \r\r\r(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The Evolution of Diana Ross - The Supremes had their first No. 1 with 1964's "Where Did Our Love Go," setting off an unprecedented run of hits: Between August 1964 and May 1967, Diana and the Supremes had 10 chart-toppers.(Photo: Motown Records)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross - The Supremes had their first No. 1 with 1964's "Where Did Our Love Go," setting off an unprecedented run of hits: Between August 1964 and May 1967, Diana and the Supremes had 10 chart-toppers.(Photo: Motown Records)

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Diana Ross, Diana Ross - After years of leading the Supremes during their record-breaking run of hits through the 1960s, Diana Ross finally struck out on her own on this 1970 LP, one of her best and most beautiful, propelled by Ashford and Simpson's songwriting powers at their peak.  (Photo: Courtesy Motown Records)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - After years of rumors and record-label maneuvers, Ross finally did the expected, going solo with her self-titled 1970 debut. The album's second single, a cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," gave Diana her first No. 1 on her own.\r\r\r(Photo: Motown Records)

Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues - The pressure was on for superstar Diana Ross when she made her long-anticipated feature film debut in this biopic about jazz great Billie Holliday. But the singer far exceeded expecations, earning herself an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for the role.(Photo: Courtesy Paramount Pictures)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross - Diana made a flawless transition to screen star with her classic take on Billie Holiday in 1972's Lady Sings the Blues.

The Evolution of Diana Ross\r  - Diana once again starred opposite Billy Dee Williams in 1975's Mahogany. The film was a box-office success, but a critical flop — though the striking images of Ross as a fashion muse are timeless, as is her No. 1 hit from the film's soundtrack, "The Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)".\r 

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - Diana once again starred opposite Billy Dee Williams in 1975's Mahogany. The film was a box-office success, but a critical flop — though the striking images of Ross as a fashion muse are timeless, as is her No. 1 hit from the film's soundtrack, "The Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)".\r

The Wiz\r - A Black musical rendition of The Wizard of Oz, this performance marked Jackson's first appearance in a film. Despite the poor critical reception to the film in the 70s, the film has gone on to become a cult classic and a favorite amongst movie buffs to this day.\r \r(Photo: Universal Studios)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - Ross made her mark on camera yet again with her star turn in The Wiz. The film was a critical and box-office flop in its 1978 release, but it's remained a hugely influential cult favorite over the decades since.\r

The Evolution of Diana Ross - Amid label drama at Motown and album sales that had never climbed back to her early '70s peak, Diana returned to form with her seminal 1980 album diana, featuring the classics "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out." The album closed out her contractual obligations with Motown, her long-time home, and landed her an unprecendented $20 million deal with RCA.(Photo: EMI Records)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross - Amid label drama at Motown and album sales that had never climbed back to her early '70s peak, Diana returned to form with her seminal 1980 album diana, featuring the classics "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out." The album closed out her contractual obligations with Motown, her long-time home, and landed her an unprecendented $20 million deal with RCA.(Photo: EMI Records)

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Motor City Moving - After years on making chart topping music, Berry Gordy and Diana Ross are reunited on the Soul Train stage. We couldn't be mo' happy with this moment!(Photo: SGranitz/WireImage)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - Much of Diana Ross and the Supremes' beef with Motown stemmed from her secret tumultuous relationship with Motown head Berry Gordy. The pair had an affair from 1965 to 1970, and Ross' first child, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, was his, though her true paternity was kept hidden for years. \r\r\r(Photo: SGranitz/WireImage)

Diana Ross and Tracee Ellis Ross - Tracee Ellis Ross and Diana Ross are the epitome of both beauty and talent. Diana is a musical legend who's done her fair share of acting, and Tracee is an accomplished actress whose versatility is well appreciated throughout the industry. It's always great to get these two in a room because they ooze star power for days on end. (Photo: KMazur/WireImage for J Records)

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The Evolution of Diana Ross\r - Diana's landed 18 No. 1 records — a feat matched only when Mariah Carey came along. But we have a feeling that she's most proud of her five children, including Tracee Ellis Ross, star of Girlfriends and BET's Reed Between the Lines. There's no doubt — she gets her talent from her mama.\r \r(Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage for J Records)