Diana Ross declares 1st new album in 15 years

Diana Ross has declared another collection called ‘Thank You’. Diana Ross is to get back to music with her first album of original material in 22 years, and her first album of any sort since 2006. Composed during lockdown, Thank You was made with an assortment of contemporary pop producers including Jack Antonoff, who is known for his work with Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Lorde.

“This collection of songs is my gift to you with appreciation and love. I am eternally grateful that I had the opportunity to record this glorious music at this time,” Ross said in a statement. “I dedicate this songbook of love to all of you, the listeners. As you hear my voice you hear my heart.”

A press release said the album “offers a powerful, inclusive musical message of love and togetherness” and that “with its songs of happiness, appreciation, and joy, it wholeheartedly acknowledges that we are in this all together”.

Ross co-composed the 13 songs on Thank You with collaborators including Antonoff, Jimmy Napes (Mary J Blige, Alicia Keys, Sam Smith), Tayla Parx (Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato) and Spike Stent (Björk, Madonna), and recorded the album in her home studio.

Ross has signed to Decca Records, which will deliver Thank You in the autumn. The disco-touched title track is released on Thursday (17 June).

It is her 25th album, following 2006’s I Love You, an collection of covers of classic love songs. Her last collection of unique material, Every Day Is a New Day, was released in 1999.

As an solo musician and a member from the Supremes, Ross has sold more than 100m records around the world. In 1993, she was accepted into the Guinness Book of Records as the successful female musician ever.

Ross was expected to perform at the 2020 Glastonbury festival in its Sunday evening “legends” slot, prior to the festival’s cancellation owing from Covid-19. She will visit the UK in June 2022.