She’s still the boss on stage at 80

Ross opted to have no tables, which meant no clinking wine glasses, fake candles and picnic baskets. All eyes were on her, not the brie and crackers.

She also opted for no opening acts. Subtext: Ross is her own opening act.

So, at 8 p.m. sharp, the show opened with an eight-minute video retrospective of his illustrious career, an appetizer of sorts while the lines of fans still waited to enter the nearly full open-air theater of 6 900 places. And as she has done for almost every concert since 1980, she opened with her joyous dance classic “I’m Coming Out,” setting the stage for a fast, shimmering ride through decades of incredible melodies.

She efficiently ran through a long list of Supremes songs and solo hits, including “Stop! In The Name of Love,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and “Baby Love,” as well as solo hits like “Touch Me in the Morning” and “The Boss.”

Credit: RODNEY HO

Credit: RODNEY HO

‘I’m so grateful’

Ross was radiant, her voice still bringing a silky effervescence. His band of nine musicians and four backing vocalists provided a dynamic backdrop. She’s not running around on stage like in the 1980s, but she can still move her hips with a smile while singing “Upside Down.”

“I am 47 years old!” » she said in the middle of the concert with a twinkle in her eye, then corrected herself mockingly. “You know I’m 80 years old? They say: move it or lose it, then I’ll move it! »

And to prove it wasn’t 1977, she didn’t ask everyone to raise their lighters during “Reach Out (And Touch Somebody’s Hand).” Instead, she said, “If you have your iPhones or cell phones, turn on the flashlight and hold them up. Now move it! »

She then asked the crowd to repeat a favorite mantra:

I’m so grateful/for all the blessings in my life/because there are many

Everything is fine/Thank you, thank you thank you

Just 45 minutes into the concert, she had reached her 15th song and slowed down with an affectionate version of Billie Holiday’s blazing song “Don’t Explain,” which Ross first sang in 1972 during her Acting debut as Holiday in “Lady Sings the”. Blues. »

This was Ross’ first post-pandemic concert in Atlanta, having performed on March 1, 2020 at the Fox Theater, less than two weeks before the world shut down.

She told the crowd that the COVID-19 shutdown inspired her 2021 album “Thank You.”

“We recorded it virtually,” she said. “Every song was a reflection of my life going through two years of not being able to tour and see you.”

She sang a few snippets of “Thank You,” including the inspiring “Tomorrow” and the anthem “If the World Just Danced,” which the world has been doing on Tik Tok during this time of isolation.

Credit: RODNEY HO/rhoa

Credit: RODNEY HO/rhoa

Family affair

Ross, while changing costumes, gave his daughter and singer-songwriter Rhonda Ross Kendrick some stage time for her own solo work that had a more rock feel. They also sang a touching and heartfelt duet “Count on Me.”

Ross ended the night first with a spirited cover of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” his first solo hit in 1970, followed by a declaration of his own resilience via Gloria Gaynor’s song “I Will Survive.” Proving it’s not just about her, she treated every member of the group to their moment in the sun, including the backing vocalists.

The group also cheekily interpolated a bit of DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win,” a nod to a woman who has absolutely nothing to lose at this point in her life.

At 9:35 p.m., 87 minutes after arriving on stage, Ross stormed off triumphantly, allowing her and most of her 50-plus audience to go to bed well before the 11 p.m. news. (In contrast, Heart’s Wilson sisters, who are 70, began their set at downtown Atlanta’s State Farm Arena during Ross’ final song.)