Criticism, even when you try to ignore it, can hurt. I have cried over many articles written about me, but I move on and I don't hold on to that.

My life has often been described as 'from rags to riches' but in fact, the Ross's were never raggedy.

My father worked hard, but we were still very poor; and I didn't want anybody arguing about money, so I became the entertainer, the one who wanted everyone to be happy. I didn't want there to be any problems.

Most people are so hard to please that if they met God, they'd probably say yes, she's great, but.

My name, Diana Ross, is my name and nobody should be able to use that for exploitative purposes but me.

I'm from a singing family, but they're not professional singers, only gospel - my grandfather was a minister. I started to sing the music that was out then because my mother used to play it all the time. It was the end of the '50s, the beginning of the '60s. There was Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers, Etta James... We used to sit outside on the stoop and sing. We even used to put our radios and record players outside.

I just appreciate still having the longevity that I've had in my career.