Editing Diana Ross (section)

===1981–1987: Leaving Motown and RCA years===
[[File:Diana Ross (1981).jpg|thumb|Ross in 1981]]

Ross began negotiations to leave Motown at the end of 1980. After over 20 years with the label, Ross received US$250,000 as severance. [[RCA Records]] offered Ross a $20&nbsp;million, seven-year recording contract, which gave her complete production control of her albums. Before signing onto the label, Ross allegedly asked Berry Gordy if he could match RCA's offer. Gordy stated that doing so was "impossible". Ross then signed with RCA on May 20, 1981. At the time, Ross's was music history's most expensive recording deal.

In October 1981, Ross released her first RCA album, ''[[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (album)|Why Do Fools Fall in Love]]''. The album sold over a million copies and featured hit singles such as her remake of the [[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (song)|classic hit of the same name]] and "[[Mirror Mirror (Diana Ross song)|Mirror Mirror]]". Shortly thereafter, Ross established her production company, named Anaid Productions ("Diana" spelled backwards), and also began investing in real estate and touring extensively in the United States and abroad.

Before the release of ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'', Ross hosted her first TV special in four years, ''Diana''. Directed by [[Steve Binder]], the concert portions of the special were filmed at [[Inglewood, California]]'s 17,500-seat [[Kia Forum|The Forum]] indoor stadium and featured performances by [[Michael Jackson]], [[Muhammad Ali]], ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' actor [[Larry Hagman]], music impresario [[Quincy Jones]] and members of the [[Joffrey Ballet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/02/arts/tv-an-hour-of-diana-ross.html|title=TV: AN HOUR OF DIANA ROSS|date=March 2, 1981|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316084944/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/02/arts/tv-an-hour-of-diana-ross.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMFw-sMH0h4|title=Diana Ross – Diana TV Special 1981 (Full Show)|last=Nandy Ross|date=November 4, 2016|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=March 4, 2018|archive-date=September 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911002210/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMFw-sMH0h4&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 1982, Ross sang "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" at [[Super Bowl XVI]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGAki6VTx1Y|title=The Star Spangled Banner|last=Scott Pangburn|date=December 23, 2015|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=March 4, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907102118/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGAki6VTx1Y|url-status=live}}</ref> and appeared on the musical variety show ''[[Soul Train]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEyKsTXWSSY|title=Diana Ross Full Episode Soul Train 1982 Interview with Don Cornelius|last=fred fishers|date=April 23, 2017|via=YouTube|access-date=March 4, 2018|archive-date=March 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317043705/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEyKsTXWSSY&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The episode, devoted completely to her, featured Ross performing several songs from ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love''.

On May 6, 1982, Ross was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hwof.com/star/recording/diana-ross/462|title=Diana Ross :: The Hollywood Walk of Fame|website=Hwof.com|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303164805/http://www.hwof.com/star/recording/diana-ross/462|url-status=live}}</ref> She followed up the success of ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' with ''[[Silk Electric]]'', which featured the Michael Jackson-written and -produced "[[Muscles (song)|Muscles]]", resulting in another Top 10 Grammy nominated success for Ross. The album eventually went gold on the strength of that song. In 1983, Ross ventured further out of her earlier soul-based sound for a more [[pop rock]]-oriented sound following the release of the ''[[Ross (1983 album)|Ross]]'' album. Though the album featured the Top 40 hit single, "[[Pieces of Ice]]", the ''Ross'' album did not generate any more hits or achieve gold status.

[[File:DianaRossPlayground NYC.jpg|thumb|The [[Diana Ross Playground]]]]
On July 21, 1983, Ross performed a free concert on [[Central Park]]'s [[Great Lawn and Turtle Pond|Great Lawn]], aired live worldwide by [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]. Proceeds of the concert would be donated to build a playground in the singer's name. Midway through the beginning of the show, a torrential downpour began. Ross tried to continue performing, but the severe weather forced the show to be stopped after 45 minutes. Ross urged the large crowd to exit the venue safely, promising to perform the next day.

The next day's concert suffered no rain, but the memorabilia that was supposed to be sold to raise money for the playground had already been destroyed by the storm. When journalists discovered the exorbitant costs of the two concerts, Ross faced criticism from Mayor [[Ed Koch]] and the Parks Department commissioner. During a subsequent mayoral press conference, Ross handed Koch a check for US$250,000 for the project.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BbEDAAAAMBAJ&q=diana+ross+ed+koch+250%2C000&pg=PA46|magazine=Jet|title=Diana Ross Comes Up With $250,000 For NYC Playground|date=February 6, 1984|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|via=Google Books|access-date=October 30, 2020|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909235714/https://books.google.com/books?id=BbEDAAAAMBAJ&q=diana+ross+ed+koch+250%2C000&pg=PA46|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Diana Ross Playground]] was built three years later.<ref>Anderson, Susan Heller and Deirdre Carmody (September 12, 1986). [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/12/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-start-at-ross-playground.html "New York Day by Day; Start at Ross Playground"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721192311/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/12/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-start-at-ross-playground.html |date=July 21, 2018 }}. ''The New York Times''.</ref>

In 1984, Ross released ''[[Swept Away (Diana Ross album)|Swept Away]]''. The album featured "[[All of You (Julio Iglesias and Diana Ross song)|All of You]]", a duet with friend [[Julio Iglesias]]. The single was featured on both Ross's album and Iglesias's ''[[1100 Bel Air Place]]'', his first English-language album. It became an international hit, as did the [[Lionel Richie]]-penned ballad "[[Missing You (Diana Ross song)|Missing You]]", composed as a tribute to [[Marvin Gaye]], who [[Killing of Marvin Gaye|had been killed earlier that year]]. ''[[Swept Away (Diana Ross album)|Swept Away]]'' garnered gold record sales status.

Her 1985 album ''[[Eaten Alive (album)|Eaten Alive]]'', produced by [[Barry Gibb]] of the [[Bee Gees]], garnered a number-one single overseas and a Top 20 spot on the album charts. The song "[[Chain Reaction (Diana Ross song)|Chain Reaction]]" reached number one in the U.K., Australia, South Africa, Israel and Ireland, and [[Eaten Alive (song)|the title track]], a collaboration with Michael Jackson and Gibb, also performed well. Both songs had strong music videos that propelled the tracks to success. The "Eaten Alive" video was patterned after the 1970s horror film ''[[The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977 film)|The Island of Dr. Moreau]]'', while the one for "[[Chain Reaction (Diana Ross song)|Chain Reaction]]" saluted the 1960s ''[[American Bandstand]]''-style TV shows. The video for "Experience", the third single from the album, reignited the "Eaten Alive" romantic storyline with Ross and actor [[Joseph Gian]].

Earlier in 1985, Ross appeared as part of USA for Africa's "[[We Are the World]]" charity single, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Ross's 1987 follow-up to ''Eaten Alive'', ''[[Red Hot Rhythm & Blues]]'' found less success; it reached No. 39 on the ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B Albums]] chart and No. 12 in Sweden. However, the album's accompanying television special was nominated for three Emmy Awards and won two: Outstanding Costume Design for a Variety or Music Program ([[Ray Aghayan]] and [[Ret Turner]]) and Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Miniseries or a Special (Greg Brunton).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9byLni-1xY|title=Diana Ross "Red Hot Rhythm & Blues" – 1.7|last=dianarossbroadcast|date=September 5, 2009|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=August 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820195442/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9byLni-1xY&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 27, 1986, Ross hosted the [[American Music Awards of 1986|13th annual]] ''[[American Music Awards]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VyWBCh1H7g|title=Diana Ross – Eaten Alive (Live) 13th Annual AMA's 1986|last=Nandy Ross|date=July 11, 2015|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=February 16, 2018|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918080033/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VyWBCh1H7g|url-status=live}}</ref> Ross returned the next year to host the [[American Music Awards of 1987|14th annual telecast]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjwf7gaGvo|title=Diana Ross Touch By Touch at 14th Annual AMA's 1987|last=Nandy Ross|date=May 10, 2017|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=February 16, 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902014324/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjwf7gaGvo&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>