What happened with Diana Ross in 1986?

This came to my mind mainly because of the topic on US radio and ageism. Someone mentioned Madonna's diminished fortunes after American Life and someone else mentioned that back in the 90s older stars such as Cher and Tina could still get the occasional hit single. My question regards Diana Ross.
Diana Ross had 23 Top 40 hits from 1970 through to 1984 including 6 number 1s. She had also 18 Top 40 solo albums. In 1985 she participates in USA For Africa's line-up. And her career finishes. From 1986 till today she never scored another Top 40 hit and more strangely yet she only scored 1 Top 40 album (I Love You in 2007). At the same period she kept on having smaller hits in the UK but she still had the occasional smash hit (When You Tell Me That You Love Me for example). So is the demise of Diana Ross an example of ageism or something else happened in 1986?
[Edited 9/4/09 4:29am]

Age mixed with being a cunt when she was on top. They had allot of young 18-25 year old female singers, plus MTV was running everything and not many 40+ year olds females were making the cut. Now add her personality and the way she rubbed people when she was running shit.

Why bother? = the industry.

Not to mention no one was buying her with the Bee Gees, oh, and that Mary Wilson book that came out definitely didn't do her any favors.

and then there was the no-supremes reunion tour. ughh

Whitney Houston

Her sixties nemesis Patti LaBelle. She got a number-one album and hit the same year Diana was struggling in America. Aretha Franklin was still having success as well and let's not forget Tina Turner.

Diana Ross' star faded so quickly. Oh and who can't forget the rise of her former "protege's" sister.

Timmy84 said:

Her sixties nemesis Patti LaBelle. She got a number-one album and hit the same year Diana was struggling in America. Aretha Franklin was still having success as well and let's not forget Tina Turner.

Diana Ross' star faded so quickly. Oh and who can't forget the rise of her former "protege's" sister.

banks said:

Timmy84 said:

Her sixties nemesis Patti LaBelle. She got a number-one album and hit the same year Diana was struggling in America. Aretha Franklin was still having success as well and let's not forget Tina Turner.

Diana Ross' star faded so quickly. Oh and who can't forget the rise of her former "protege's" sister.

Yea... I always thought Diana vocals were light weight just like Janet's, Pretty but feather like

Flowerpower said:

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day

Timmy84 said:

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

Right, Diana & Janet sounds just alike, it's almost eerily.

You guys are serious?

The ONLY thing in common with those 2 is the range...

Timmy84 said:

lastdecember said:

This Stevie song didn't help her either. Sounds pretty weak I admit.

NMuzakNSoul said:

Yes, I think there were a number of things that lead to her downfall. Mary's book and Whitney Houston being at the top of the list.

Timmy84 said:

1985 - Marries Arne Næss, Jr.
I don't know about 1986, but 1987 she had that really good TV special Red Hot Rhythm And Blues (Remember LL Cool J performing "Go Cut Creator Go"? My mom taped this show and I watched it over and over back then.) To my memory, Diana was still the schitt.
1988 - Gives birth to Evan Ross in August.

ElectricBlue said:

"Who gonna check me boo?"

Boriqua1130 said: It's never too late, to be "Experienced"

missfee said:

ElectricBlue said:

Age mixed with being a cunt when she was on top. They had allot of young 18-25 year old female singers, plus MTV was running everything and not many 40+ year olds females were making the cut. Now add her personality and the way she rubbed people when she was running shit.

Why bother? = the industry.

preach.

Marrk said:

missfee said:

preach.

Alot of folks are finding that out to their cost though, commercially.

Is Prince one of them too? i don't know, he's male, but still a diva, no doubt. Just throwing that out there!.

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day

Harlepolis said:

Marrk said:

Alot of folks are finding that out to their cost though, commercially.

Is Prince one of them too? i don't know, he's male, but still a diva, no doubt. Just throwing that out there!.

Speak on it

I don't buy the "she's a cunt" bandwagon either, she's doing what ALL of them who survived this long did,,,,looked out for herself. Simply put.

Its just happen that Prince is considered a "savvy shrewd business man" while Ms.Ross got slammed with the "cunt" label for doing the EXACT SAME THING.

If anything I command her for it, it shows me that she's a fighter too.

Timmy84 said:

Harlepolis said:

Speak on it

I don't buy the "she's a cunt" bandwagon either, she's doing what ALL of them who survived this long did,,,,looked out for herself. Simply put.

Its just happen that Prince is considered a "savvy shrewd business man" while Ms.Ross got slammed with the "cunt" label for doing the EXACT SAME THING.

If anything I command her for it, it shows me that she's a fighter too.

She got called "cunt", "bitch", "slut", "ho", etc. All because she wanted business to be done.

When Diane pissed people off, they all went with that "she sucked Berry Gordy's dick to get far", lol

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

She got called "cunt", "bitch", "slut", "ho", etc. All because she wanted business to be done.

When Diane pissed people off, they all went with that "she sucked Berry Gordy's dick to get far", lol

Oh The BOSS is the queen of FFT of divas I ain't gonna lie,,,,

But one can't shrug the woman off because anybody with good sense can tell right off that she had an overtime working brain between those shoulders.

Timmy84 said:

Harlepolis said:

Oh The BOSS is the queen of FFT of divas I ain't gonna lie,,,,

But one can't shrug the woman off because anybody with good sense can tell right off that she had an overtime working brain between those shoulders.

Having five businesses and investing in real estate so she wouldn't wound up like her Motown colleagues proved that.

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

Having five businesses and investing in real estate so she wouldn't wound up like her Motown colleagues proved that.

And since Marrk already threw Prince' name,,,,,I'm willing to bet my rent money that she's WAAAAAY savvier than him when it comes to that department, just saying

I love Diana. She's will always be the definition of diva. No other can touch her. Perhaps notthe best female vocalist of all time. But her style and class put her above the rest. None of those others can touch her. Not Whitney, Madonna, Beyonce, Mariah, or Celine.

NONSENSE said:

I don't get how the Bee Gees factor into her career downfall

scriptgirl said: