Diana Ross to Be Recognized for Lifetime Achievement

Black Entertainment Television (BET) announced that they will recognize former Supremes lead singer and real life diva, singer/actress Diana Ross as the seventh recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

During the fifty-year span of her career, Ross has received seven American Music awards and a Tony Award for her music special, An Evening with Diana Ross in 1977. She has also been nominated for twelve Grammy Awards and an Academy Award.

As the lead singer of the most influential girl group of all time, Ross and the Supremes garnered twelve number one hits including, Stop! In the Name of Love; Baby Love; You Can't Hurry Love; I Hear a Symphony and Somebody We'll Be Together.

Throughout the course of Ross' career, she has worked with many great artists, such as the late Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie and Rod Stewart.

The Detroit native made her movie debut in the 1972 classic, Lady Sings the Blues, a biographical movie about the life of legendary blues singer, Billie Holiday. The very next year, Ross won Most Promising Newcomer-Female at the Globe Globes.

This was not the end of her movie career but was just the beginning. She has since appeared in Mahogany (1975), The Wiz (1978), Out of Darkness (1978) and Double Platinum (1999).

According to BET, past recipients to receive this honor were Whitney Houston (2001), Earth, Wind & Fire (2002), James Brown (2003), the Isley Brothers (2004), Gladys Knight (2005) and Chaka Khan (2006).

Alongside Ms. Ross at the BET Awards this year, it was announced that actor Don Cheadle will receive the Humanitarian Award for his efforts to put an end to genocide in Darfur.

The BET Awards will take place at the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and will air June 26^th at 8pm (ET).

Comedienne Monique will host the event.

Source

Kia E. Jefferson, "Get Ready! BET Awards '07"

www.bet.com