“Our relationship is not like I would want it to be, but it’s better than most people would think. We still really love each other. I think other people need to leave us alone” – Mary Wilson, CYinterview.
Well said Mary Wilson, it has been years since this whole Diana-Mary Wilson thing.
In related news, TV One is taking on Florence Ballard’s story during their forthcoming ‘unsung’ series, click here for dates and more information.
It would be a dream of the golden generation and baby boomers to see them (Mary, Cindy and Diana) on stage together again, and an inspiration to groups like Danity Kane, the Mary Jane Girls, Xscape and SWV who have fallen victum to the stereotypical girl-group break-up curse! But unfortunately, that maybe all what it will be!
It would, indeed, be a wonderful moment to see a real Supremes reunion! If Paul and Ringo can do it, then Diana and Mary can’t be far behind. Ya gotta love those ladies!
Since Mary realized her solo career would never happen some 30 years ago she’s made a career of talking trash about Diana Ross. Ironically her only real claim to fame is that she once sang backup for Ross. I think it funny that she now says people should leave “us” alone. Ross has publicly made it clear for quite some time that she no longer has any relationship with Mary. I saw Mary perform on her own, and it was pathetic and sad.
my aunt before she passed away diana ross should forget about passed ‘life is to short to hold something against another.
PEOPLE LOVE THE SUPREMES AND ALWAYS WILL INCLUDING
DIANA ROSS
diana should give what the fans want and even the world to the supremes back together. they are role model for the women of today and coming.
Please Mary, Cindy and Diana, please do a reunion.
The sheer joy of seeing you ladies together singing on stage can not be put into words.
Please do it for the fans and for Motowns 50th!
Their day together in the sun is past. Let it be.
SORRY CANT STAND THIS WOMAN….INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING ON WHAT CAREER SHE HAD LEFT…SHE CHOSE TO BASH DIANA ROSS OVER AND OVER AGAIN….DIANA ONCE TOLD AN INTERVIEWER THAT SHE NO LONGER HAS THAT CONTACT WITH MARY…SHE STATED THAT YOU CAN ONLY BE SLAPPED SO MANY TIMES BY A SO-CALLED FRIEND….MARY IS QUITE DELUSIONAL WHEN IT COMES TO DIANA….AND AS A FAN OF DIANAS…I AM QUITE TIRED OF IT. MARY NEEDS TO JUST GO SIT IN HENDERSON AND LEAVE MISS ROSS ALONE. MARY IS TWO FACED AND DIANA IS MUCH BETTER OFF WITHOUT HER!
Mary was offered 4 – 6 million for a Supremes Reunion Tour. She said it wasn’t enough and that she wouldn’t be a backup singer for Ross. But what else is she but a backup singer? Instead of the tour she hit the oldie circuit where she was luck if she made a million before expenses. For 40 years she has been unable to get her solo career off the ground. Ross’ performances on those classic Supremes songs are still not only buttering Mary’s bread but providing the bread for Mary to butter. As long as Mary holds onto jealousy of Ross and bitterness toward Motown she can’t win.
I don’t think Mary Wilson is jealous of Diana Ross or anyone else at all. She works steady, has a loyal fan base and still has a sexy look. Most female performers her age don’t have a recording contract either. You go girl!
Thank you Mark. I get so tired these “fans” who swallowed Motown’s hype that Diana was The Supremes. Supremes fans liked them with Diana and after she left. Being the lead singer, doesn’t make you the owner. Mary Wilson does not bash Diana Ross,she just stands up for what’s right. It’s no coincidence that respected sources that summarize The Supremes career reflect Mary’s autobiography. All of the pieces fit together. Fans recognize the truth. Mary didn’t get booed at Florence’s funeral.
mary wilson was a back up singer period,miss diana ross gave her a chance and she turned it down because of her pathetic jealosies,where did mary ever mention the money that diana ross loaned her or the things she did for florence ballards children,she didnd,miss ross dont give this vile creature another chance,she does not deserve it.
Mz. Wilson shot down the idea of a historical reunion tour with her 2000 actions. That’s part of her legacy too!
Let’s stick to the facts,ok? The Supremes were a group. Diana slept her way to lead singer. In her books Mary mentioned the money Diana loaned her, which she paid back with interest. Check out the youtube interview with Florence’s children and you’ll learn what Diana did for them. Mary took them to the Supremes’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction. Motown paid for a Florence Ballard’s funeral bash because of the bad publicy they were getting after her death. Check out the youtube interview where Florence tells about Berry Gordy kicking her out of a Motown party Mary took her to, after she was fired. And Mary didn’t just shoot down the “idea” of a reunion tour, she shot down the tour, period. Justice was served. Diana’s ego is as big as her hair. She needs to get a grip, not have another drink.
I am a fan of Diana’s, but also a fan of the Supremes before Diana was thrust into the forefront. Diana manipulated and turned Berry against the other two Supremes and it has been stated time and time again by members of the Motown family, Diana’s attitude at Motown was that she was royalty. I’ll put it out there fan or not, it is what it is. Mary knew how manipulative Diana was, Florence knew how manipulative she was, the difference between Mary and Flo is that Flo had a backbone to stand up to Diana and Berry, and when you stand up for what’s right, Miss Ross will become offended and she will get you. The stories are all true about Diana’s ego and bitchy attitude towards staff and people at Motown. She left a sour taste in peoples mouths at Motown and in the music industry as well. Mary’s decision to put Diana out there is based on how she treated others and Diana tries to make up for her behavior by being coy and unassuming.
If you have a 400 people say that a person is bitchy and demanding and then you have 30 people say a person is nice, you tend to make the assumption that the 400 people know what they are talking about. Diana is no saint in the whole Diana versus Mary and Flo saga. After Diana left the Supremes she was still Berry’s main focus and therefore the remaining Supremes and any other group at Motown where left to fend for themselves if Diana had anything to do with it. Granted Diana proved that she could have success without the Supremes, one would have to also believe that any one of the Supremes could have had equal success had Berry backed them like he did Diana.
After Diana got all that she could from Berry after numerous knock down, drag out exchanges she wanted more control and being that he had given her most of the control at Motown for the duration of the time she was there, Diana felt it was time for her to move on, and she has stated that it was Berry who controlled her, and anyone who knows Miss Ross, knows she’s the Boss or thinks she was. After leaving Motown for a lucrative deal with RCA, she told reporters she was on her own and doing things her way. She was only able to sell overseas and with the help of Mary coming out with her truth about Diana and the Supremes more and more people started to dislike Miss Ross, but it wasn’t just Mary’s book that did it, it was Miss Ross herself. The same Diva attitude she had at Motown, she started to have on the concert circuit, with staff and other execs. Noone wanted to work with her, and those who did, where afraid to because of her attitude. Good work ethics, bad attitude and they don’t go hand-in-hand.
Diana has over the years received many accolades and established herself as a noteworthy actress, but not with the pitfalls of falling on her face. RCA dropped her and she now has to search for record labels to record and distribute her music. Mary on the other hand has not been as successful, but moderately so, she is bitter and she is bitter from the fact that anyone who starts off as teenage friends in a group, home is where the heart is, and she felt betrayed and I can see why, Diana doesn’t see why and many of Marys fans see why..so what one does in this situation is reach out or lash out and I think Mary’s done both. When things between Mary and Diana where okay, Mary would resort back to the old times,getting back together, whereas Diana’s agenda has and always will be about moving forward.
When Diana felt a Reunion tour was due, it would be on her terms and the money offered to Mary was less than lucrative to her being a founding member, and she was looking at the tour as an equal billing or somewhat close to an equal bill, but Diana felt otherwise using the excuse that she doesn’t make the negotiations when it comes to the money. That was yet another slap in the face for Mary. Diana should’ve offered more money to these two women being that Diana would in fact make millions more for the tour because I’m sure she would’ve had creative control over the tour as well as it becoming an recorded special available on cd and video for her own Company. Mary knew this, and that’s why she was upset. Diana is worth Billions.
One thing I can say about Mary whatever her strategy whether she knows she has one or not, to continue to tarnish Diana’s image til death do them part, has truly worked in her favor so to speak. Because of Mary, Diana has loss a lot of her fanbase, and Diana only fueled the fire by going on a tour without the original Supremes, which left a bad taste in a lot of fans mouths. Then Mary to go on and tell the public how insulting it was for Diana to offer the amount of money she did to the other ladies. Not only that, the Dreamgirls movie which painted Diana in a not so pretty stage light. Although Diana has enjoyed success in her life and has married rich and is worth more money than one could imagine, as well as raised 5 beautiful children, she has only begun to reaped the wrath of her wicked ways. Despite whether or not she knowingly does vindictive, spiteful things there is an old saying that “what goes around, comes around.” And one has to agree that this saying goes for Mary as well. But the chance of a successful Supremes Tour has come and gone.
mw and dr and cb , return to the stage in ‘10
the won’t do it no promoter will touch it
dumb broads, stupid fools and again dumb…………
bravo, maybe they’ll smarten up!!!
you got it right, lud
they aren’t tje brightest and moody, they are that!!!
Everyone would like to blame Diana Ross for Florence’s demise. The truth is that the records without Diana singing lead did not sell. Diana’s lead is responsible for the group being successful. They all enjoyed the money and the fame. Diana did not want to take over the group, Flo had a problem with her being the center of attention. Flo is to blame for not receiving help for her problems. As far as the Reunion Tour, diana should recieve more money because she is performing The Supreme’s songs and her own music. Mary needs to just accept that Diana has done well for herself. She exploits Florence by participating in every show/interview involving Flo and/or the Supremes and being paid for it.
To quote President Reagan, “Here we go again..” Everyone would like to blame Diana Ross for Florence’s demise? I don’t. So “everyone” doesn’t. Mary Wilson was my favorite Supreme and I am a big fan to this day. In the beginning,songs with Diana as lead did not sell well. Holland,Dozier,Holland songs sold well. You’ve heard that none of the Supremes liked “Where Did Our Love Go?”? How do you or anyone else know that Diana singing lead was responsible for the group’s success? Mary Wilson’s early 90’s version of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” was better than the original. “Diana did not want to take over the group”? Oh,you were there? Flo had a problem with Diana being the center of attention? Flo sang “People” in live performances and that was taken away from her. Why? To make Diana the center of attention. You need go to youtube and hear Florence’s side before you judge her. Do you know that Mary took her to a party after she was kicked out of the Supremes and Berry Gordy made her leave? As for the ill-fated RTL tour, have you ever heard or read that Mary Wilson or Cindy Birdsong wanted a three-way split of the money? Mary asked for respect, period. And Mary exploits Florence in shows and interviews? And you know she’s paid for it? How do you know that Mary doesn’t accept that Diana has done well for herself? Mary has done well for herself. If you’ve seen her perform you’d know that she’s kept her promise to Flo. She’s taken care of it.
And one more thing: Just walk away Renee.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO….DIANA DOES NOT NEED MARY……WENT TO SEE MARY (FREE TICKETS OF COURSE..WOULD NEVER PAY TO SEE THIS HAS BEEN BACK ROUND SINGER) AT A COUNTY FAIR…AND SHE WAS ON THERE TRYING TO PLAY THE DIVA….SHE KEPT REFERRING HERSELF AS MARY WILSON & THE SUPREMES…..SHE WAS SUCH AN ARROGANT PERSON…THAT MY FRIENDS AND I ALL LAUGHED AT HER AND WAS REALLY EMBARASSED FOR HER…SHE HOLDS NOTHING IN COMPARISON TO MISS DIANA ROSS, YET SHE LONGS FOR THE CAREER DIANA HAS. HER VOICE IS TERRIBLE SOUNDING (VERY SCRATCHY) AND NO DISTINCTIVENESS TO IT AT ALL….NO ONE HAS A VOICE LIKE DIANAS…WHETHER IT BE THIN, DIANA IS STILL A BETTER SINGER AND IF IT WAS’NT FOR HER UNOQUE VOICE…THE SUPREMES WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT!
Well, Rick. You went to see Mary Wilson, expecting her to disappoint you (free tickets). And she did. No need to consult a rocket scientist about that. Were you really listening?? Mary Wilson AND the Supremes?? I’ve only seen her billed as and heard her refer to peformances as Mary Wilson OF the Supremes. You want to argue that she’s not Mary Wilson OF the Supremes? Like Renee, how do you know Mary “longs for the career Diana has”? Did Mary tell you that? Her voice was terrible because you wanted it to be terrible. That’s your opinion. And like something else, everybody has one. I’ll agree with you: no one has a voice like Diana’s. Did I say great, special, exceptional, better than Mary’s? No, I didn’t. And Diana is a better singer? Better than who? Florence? And “here we go again”, you and Renee have this amazing insight into the past. You somehow KNOW that The Supremes would have never “made it” without Diana as lead. Amazing. You need to lend your clarivoyant powers to world issues. I’ll just borrow from your comment. Do you know what your’re talking about? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.
Art
And,Rick: If you want to repond, try answering my questions with FACTS. My questions have “?” after them.
And, I noticed you started a previous comment with “SORRY CANT STAND THIS WOMAN”(Mary Wilson). You went to her concert and you can’t stand her? Who goes to a performance of someone they can’t stand, even with free tickets? That speaks volumes about your character. Diana Ross doesn’t need fans like you.
Rick, go eat some Buttered Popcorn. It’s gooey and salty.
Hello everybody,
Over and over I get astonished why people write all these negative things about two great stars.
Two different people, with both their own talent, and qualities. Both women are OK ! One is not better then the other, the are both unique in their own way, and we should be grateful to have their music to listen to. I would rather hear something positive about both queens of soul, instead of the eternal gossip. I think they both have a lot of class, and they have their destiny in life. Why not start caring about them instead of burning them. Music is one of the most beautiful gifts we have on this earth, it can lighten our days, help us expressing our emotions, listening to it, it calms us, excites us, helps us in loving eachother, in mourning, in sadness, in every feeling that exists. Thank you Mary, thank you Diana, you are both wonderful, and I am determined not to listen to any crab that is written about either of you !!! God bless you both. Erica
Thanks Erica. I agree with your comment. I am a Mary Wilson fan, but I have no ill feelings toward Diana Ross. I am astonished by people who make comments that have n0 basis of the facts. It’s all about credibility. Who can say that Diana was the sole reason for The Supremes’ success? Who can say that Mary was just a back-up singer? Diana has made her mark. Mary has made her mark. Mary and Diana allow us to celebrate The Supremes. That’s the bottowm line.
Art
I feel that when people are loyal to you that they should be rewarded. Diana Ross is not pattie labelle who stood up for her group when diana ross took people away from her. She killed florence and she should not act that way to people she grow up with. Shame on all these people i sing with a church grup and you do not treat people ;ke this money is money but we should not do this diana ross and berry gordy should not have pitted one meber against the other as if the public did not know what was going on grow up people are human beings all of them could sing diana ross did not have the best voice only the wrongst personality educatuated people do not have to tire someone else apart to be a success i will no longer listen to the motown or any group that tires down or people pass the tourch to the rising icons or grow up
you are soooo right, kimberley.
Art
Art call me. listing in mabelvale arkansas – no longer at Ivy drive.
Debbetta and Randetta
Mary Wilson should let the Diana Ross thing go. Unfortunately her great talents have been over shadowed by Ms. Ross’ chart topping career. I think had marry let the drama go and had went on with her career and stayed focus she’d be as much a success music wise as Diana.
mary whining no career back up singer wilson get a life,miss diana ross was the supremes period,miss ross has just sold out 2 nights in holland,30,000 both nights when did that vile mary sell out anywhere,miss ross forgot about her a long time ago,please miss ross never give that terrible woman another chance,love you miss ross you are a real lady and carry yourself with dignity.
Well Graham, I’ll try to respond to your ranting, run-on sentence(ever hear of grammar?) Or maybe you sent this when you were too drunk,like Miss Ross was when she was arrested for DUI. A real lady who carries herself with dignity, when she couldn’t even write the alphabet the night of her arrest? Couldn’t attend a single Michael Jackson memorial service? And,once again, you have proof Ross sold out in Holland for 2 nights to 30,000? You have proof Mary Wilson has never sold out anywhere? Well, I have proof. You can’t get a ticket to Mary Wilson’s perfomance with the Houston Symphony this month. Performing with the Houston Symphony doesn’t sound classy and dignified to you? Americans know Miss Ross. Remember the Return to Love failure? No sell-out crowds there. In fact, no crowds at all. And Graham, you show a total lack of understanding of The Supremes. Miss Ross stepped on her original partners, Mary and Florence (including sleeping with the boss)to promote herself. Most respected media sources report that. Mary Wilson is the one who has taken the high road. Can you cite for me any place where she has whined? Mary has made a name for herself. She has taken original Supremes’ songs and made them her own. You, Graham, come off as the whiner. You need to get a life.
ArtB
One more thing, Graham. You might want to read the comment right before yours, from Linda. She made a statement, expressed her opinion, with dignity and class. I may not agree with her, but she didn’t spit on Mary Wilson to promote Diana Ross, like you did. You know, Graham, it’s all in the presentation.
ArtB
If Diana had decided long ago to retire or get out of the music business, Mary Wilson would be out a career…..
Mary is quite delusional when it comes to diana..and yes she may be working, but not the types of places Diana can play…I saw her once at a County Fair…and it between what she calls singing you can hear chickens, fair rides, kids running around and that occasional tractor pull…these are the dives she has been resorted to play…she can only wish she could play the theatres Diana can. I was so embarassed for her i had to leave…it was so sad.
I saw Mary Wilson’s show twice at the Gold Nugget in Vegas. Did you hear me? Vegas. I saw her twice in Atlanta. Once in Ft Worth TX, where she raised over $800,000 to benefit juvenile diabetes research. Just because your station in life puts you at places with chickens, fair rides, kids, and tractor pulls doesn’t mean that’s all Mary Wilson is about. Ever heard of Feinstein’s in NYC? Heard of the Plush Room in San Francisco? Check out her schedule on marywilson.com before you comment again. As for: “what you call singing”, check out what respected sources(and you are not one)say about her performances. You know, if you like chickens and tractor pulls, Mary Wilson may not be for you. So what theatres does Diana play that Mary doesn’t? Vegas? Atlanta? NYC? San Francisco? All over the UK? Oh, Mary’s been there. And I’m glad you left her show. You are so sad.
And isn’t Diana out of the music business? What has she done lately? Did she show respect for Michael Jackson by attending the memorial service? the funeral? Did she make any comment, except through a publicist? Mary Wilson is out there, keeping alive the legacy of The Supremes. Diana is sitting at home, going: “I’m a star. I think I’ll have another drink.”
ArtB
David, you have to trash Mary Wilson to make Diana Ross look good? Think about it.
ArtB
David,you set yourself up as an all-knowing psychic: “If Diana decided long ago to retire or get out of the music business, Mary Wilson would be out of a career.” How do you know this? You must be really young and/or so naive about The Supremes. Puhleeeezz!!!
ArtB
Art Beakle…You are truly delusional if you think that it wasn’t Diana’s voice that sold all those records with the Supremes. History has proven it all hits were with Diana as lead!! Also to bring up Dianas drinking is being truly stupid. She no longer drinks but who knows if Mary is still snorting Coke!!
Art, you are truly delusional. Diana slept her way to lead singer? You’re showing your ignorance with every line you type. Diana didn’t have a relationship with Berry until SHE had a 4th consecutive #1 hit, and HER 5th #1 was climbing the chart. Berry was the one at this point that pursued her to ensure that she stayed at Motown and didn’t become involved with another man. He was still stinging from Mary Wells leaving, and he didn’t want that to happen. Diana Ross is responsible for the success. You could have had any two black girls standing next to her, as long as Diana was lead. You, Mary, and a few others can’t face that after all these years, but it’s true. If Florence was the lead, they would have gone the way of Patti Labelle and the Bluebells: HITLESS and NOWHERE! Just being able to scream the loudest doesn’t make someone a great singer and certainly doesn’t make someone successful. The two most successful female singers of all time, Madonna and Diana Ross are always the brunt of jealous people that try to discredit their vocal abilities. I know Mary Wilson’s long time road manager(fans know him very well, and he has written a book)from the past, and he said she is obsessed with Diana Ross and wants to be her. He also was there when Diana wrote her a $500,000 ck back in 1981, when she was so stupid and let Pedro manage her. In one of his fits he tore up her gowns and sheet music, and Diana came to her rescue. Diana Ross should have been making more than the other Supremes, cause she did more work, plain and simple, but she didn’t. Diana also had the work ethic, charisma, driver, and star power the other two just didn’t have. They were jealous no talents. Florence got her “People” lead taken away from her, cause she was always drunk and her voice was always going out and she couldn’t handle the ONE song. Can you imagine how screwed they would have been if they had to depend on Florence to sing all the leads in concert.
Vagalindo, how do you know Supremes’ songs were hits only because Diana was lead singer? Holland/Dozier/Holland wrote hit songs for The Supremes. How do you know that a song wouldn’t have been hit if Mary or Florence sang lead? You don’t. Please quote your reliable source that proves Diana Ross is no longer drinking. Michael Jackson thought enough of her to want her to take care of his children, but she was a no-show at all events surrounding his death and comments were all through a publicist.
Juan, please quote your reliable source that Diana Ross slept with Berry Gordy as THE SUPREMES’ number 5 hit was climbing the charts. And so Berry Gordy sleeping with Diana Ross was a strategy to keep her at Motown? It was all business? That makes Berry Gordy a prostitute. And Diana a john. And you know what would have happened if Florence or Mary had sung lead on any Holland/Dozier/Holland
songs? Please tell me how you know that. You put Diana Ross with Madonna as two of the most successful female singers of all time? Please do a fact-check.
Just how do you know Mary Wilson’s long time road manager? You are friends with him? Diana Ross loaned Mary Wilson money. Mary Wilson paid her back with interest. And the problem is?
In one sentence you say Diana should have been making more than the other Supremes,but she didn’t. In another, you say any two any two black girls could have been standing next to her. Well, were Mary and Florence the “other Supremes” or just two black girls?
I’m not even going to comment on something as stupid as Mary and Florence were jealous, no talents.
Do you not believe that Florence was raped before The Supremes had a hit? Do you not believe that affected her? Do you not believe that The Supremes signed on at Motown as a trio,each with equal status? Do you not understand that after being raped, then being relegated to Diana’s back-up might have led to her drinking?
Vgalindo, Juan:
I hate it for you, but your are the ones who are truly dilusional
Art B
Vgalindo,Juan
If I used your kind of reasoning,Lee Harvey Oswald wouldn’t have shot President Kennedy if I’d have given him a blowjob on November 21, 1963.
Art B
And again Vgalindo, Juan: The Supremes were Diana Ross and two other black women? Diana tried that in 2000 in the Return to Love Tour. And what do the facts say: Oops, it flopped, cancelled, bye,bye. And the two other black women were former Supremes or were they just two other black women?
Art B