USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.Diana Ross rings in 2026 with New Year's Eve performance Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY January 1, 2026 at 5:51 AM 0 There still "ain't no mountain high enough" that Diana Ross can't conquer. At 81, the "Queen of Motown" proved her timeless appeal during her headlining performance on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" just before the arrival of 2026.
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Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY January 1, 2026 at 5:51 AM
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There still "ain't no mountain high enough" that Diana Ross can't conquer.
At 81, the "Queen of Motown" proved her timeless appeal during her headlining performance on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" just before the arrival of 2026.
Wearing a crimson feathered floor-length coat over a slinky dress, the glamorous legend began her disco-tastic set walking through a throng of revelers in Times Square.
Ross proved a game participant as she moved from her main stage - with a phalanx of tuxedo-clad male dancers behind her - where she sang statement songs "The Boss" and "Upside Down," to a platform above the crowd for "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
As she emphatically delivered the song's uplifting lyrics, she proclaimed, "I'm so grateful for all the blessings in my life!"
Ross returned to her primary stage spot to close out her six-minute romp with "Take Me Higher," as swirls of confetti blew through the air.
Ross topped a performance lineup that also included Mariah Carey, New Kids on the Block, "KPop Demon Hunters" singers Huntr/X, Pitbull, Post Malone, Chappell Roan, Busta Rhymes, Maren Morris and Rick Springfield.
Ryan Seacrest anchored ABC's live coverage with Rita Ora from Times Square in New York, while Chance the Rapper helmed the inaugural NYRE Central time zone countdown in Chicago, Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough cohosted from Las Vegas and Roselyn Sánchez beamed in from Puerto Rico. The show will be available on Hulu Jan. 1.
Diana Ross speaks onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Ross' medley showcased the expanse of her seven-decade career.
She scored her first No. 1 hit with The Supremes – "Where Did Our Love Go?" – in 1964 and steered another 11 songs to the top of the charts with the group. Ross also earned six solo No. 1s, starting with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" in 1970, three years after Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell accomplished the same feat.
Her standing in pop culture was reaffirmed when her 1980 smash "Upside Down" was used in the first episode of the current season of "Stranger Things" on Netflix.
Ross remains a steady road warrior, playing dozens of shows around the world in 2025 including the O2 Arena in London, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and two nights at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Earlier this month, Ross wrapped her Reflections, Magic & Memories Tour at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage casino near Palm Springs, California.
Ross will return to Las Vegas – the site of her last-ever concert with The Supremes in 1970 – with shows Feb. 12, 14-15 at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diana Ross performance rings in 2026
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Published: January 01, 2026 at 07:45AM on Source: RON MAG
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