Photo: Courtesy of Rhonda Ross
As the eldest daughter and only child of music legends Diana Ross and Berry Gordy, Rhonda Ross has managed to rise above her famous parents’ shadow and carve out a career replete with film, TV and theatrical triumphs. She was bit by the acting bug at the start of her entertainment career and joined the cast of NBC’s popular soap opera, “Another World” as “Toni Burrell – which led to an Emmy nomination. Ross later went on to star in Showtime’s “Bessie Coleman: A Dream to Fly,” the film Hook’d Up, and toured nationally with the Vagina Monologues; It’s clear Ross doesn’t shy away from the spotlight, she revels in it.
L to R: Patrick L. Riley and Rhonda Ross
And recently, all eyes were on Rhonda Ross as Patrick L. Riley from the digital talk show, “The Happy Hour” hosted and served as moderator for an intimate setting at The National Black Theatre. As he posed personal and professional questions to the singer/songwriter, I was surprised at her candor. She revealed details about her childhood that I think most celebrities with her family lineage would be inclined to withhold. For instance, discovering at the age of 13, that her then stepfather, Robert Ellis Silberstein, Diana Ross’ former husband, wasn’t her biological father and receiving confirmation why her younger sisters seemed different than her with their physical attributes. She thanks her mother Diana for being truthful and arming her with the resilience and guidance to navigate the world and providing unconditional love, as evidenced by the tight bond the 5 siblings (sisters: Tracee Ellis Ross (star of the hit series, “Black-ish,” Chudney Ross, younger brothers: Evan Ross and Ross Naess) share with each other. If you follow them on social media, they support and advocate for each other’s professional endeavors and their extended families with sweet, playful displays and undoubtedly fierce loyalty. As moderator, Patrick L. Riley coined it: “No one does blended, like the Rosses.”
Adding to the excitement of the night was Rhonda’s 10 year-old son, Raif Henok – whom Ross home-schooled. He can speak 4 languages and is very comfortable in the limelight, stealing the show on multiple occasions throughout the evening. Ross, when speaking about her son was honest about the hardships she and her husband (Rodney Kendrick), and musical partner of 20+ years had conceiving. She went on discuss the lack of and misguided instruction he endured at the hands of private school teachers and was lucky to find a home-schooling collective of people that helped her make the right decision for her son’s education.
L to R: Rhonda Ross and son, Raif Henok
The audience, including myself, hung on to Rhonda’s every word. How could we not? It was a rare opportunity to witness a celebrity divulge so much of their personal and professional journey with such honesty and bravado. Ross is determined to speak her truth and live an authentic life. The Neo-Soul singer continues to tour with her husband and mother, Diana Ross, throughout 2020 and has exciting plans to enter the acting world soon. To learn more about Rhonda Ross and check out tour dates, click here.
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