Diana Ross, 81, is a famous matriarch who is more conventional than some may think. Her daughter-in-law, Ashlee Simpson, 40, recently revealed just what kind of grandmother Diana is.
"She's so hands on," Ashlee told E! News. "She's just about family. And you wouldn't think of [her] like that."
Ashlee described how excited she was when Diana stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet in a long white gown embroidered with her family's names.
© WireImage"It was amazing," she remembered. "I was watching them and yelled, 'Everybody hurry down! Ami's on TV!'"
Diana's family
Diana is a mom to five kids. Ronda, 53, Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, Chudney, 49, Ross, 37, and Ashlee's husband, Evan, 36.
The legendary singer has eight grandchildren – Raif-Henok, 16, Callaway Lane, 12, Bronx Mowgli Wentz, 15, Jagger Snow, 10, Leif, 8, Indigo, 7, Everlee, 5 and Ziggy Blu, 4.
© GettyDiana takes her grandchildren everywhere. They attend her shows, hang out at her house, and even tag along to award shows.
In 2019, Diana was honored at the Grammy Awards for her 75th birthday. Her grandson Raif-Henok introduced his 'grandmommy' to the crowd, saying: "She is amazing. Young people like me can look up to her for her independence, confidence, and willingness to be her unique self. She has shown the world that nothing is beyond our reach."
Diana's son Evan married singer Ashlee on August 30, 2015. The ceremony was held at Diana's Connecticut home. She also officiated and performed at the reception.
© WWD via Getty ImagesAfter the couple welcomed their first couple in 2015, Evan told PEOPLE: "While [Ashlee] was having the baby, we said we were going to do it just us, but then we saw both our parents behind the curtain watching. Also, those nurses can't stop my mom. Like, Diana Ross just walks in."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana quarantined with Ashlee, Evan, Jagger, and Ziggy, who was just born.
"Right when the baby was born, we quarantined, we did two weeks," Evan recalled to PEOPLE. "[My] mom came and stayed with us, and it was great."
Like mother, like daughter-in-law
Ashlee recently announced that she will perform on August 29 and 30 at the Venetian resort in Las Vegas. The "I Am Me" show is a bit of a comeback and a bit of a celebration of the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Autobiography.
© InstagramAnd this performance marks another similarity between her and her mother-in-law. Diana performed 27 shows at the Venetian from 2015 to 2017 for her residency "The Essential Diana Ross: Some Memories Never Fade."
"I would love to steal anything [from her closet]," Ashlee said to E! News. "Anytime she's ever given me anything [to wear], I've been like, 'Oh my god!'"
