Diana Ross Shuts Down Met Gala Carpet in First Appearance in 22 Years

The Met Gala navy carpet had barely just opened for business when Diana Ross arrived and effectively stopped traffic in all directions so the press and photographers could take in the moment.

The music legend — attending the event for the first time since 2003 — wore a white crystal embellished gown accentuated by a matching feather boa-trimmed cape and a show stopping hat to match. The gown’s train was so large that it required the aid of six handlers to help position it on the carpet in a scene reminiscent of Rihanna’s big moment at the 2015 Met Gala. One of those men helping carry the train happened to be Ross’s son, the actor Evan Ross.

In fact, Ross credited her son for being the reason she graced the steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. “My son persuaded me,” Ross told Vogue live stream co-host La La Anthony. He said, “‘Mom, you gotta go.’”

Asked about the ensemble, Ross called it a “family gown” and revealed that it was embroidered with all the names of her children and eight grandchildren.

Evan Ross praised his mother as “the best thing of all time,” adding, “She is the Met ball.” See below for more views of Ross at the Met Gala.

The Met Gala serves as the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual marquee fundraiser. This year’s installment celebrates the Costume Institute’s spring fashion exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The evening’s theme, given to guests and stylists as a way to interpret the dress code, was “Tailored for you.” Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams are the 2025 co-chairs alongside Vogue’s Anna Wintour and honorary chair LeBron James (who pulled out last minute, citing a knee injury).

Check out THR‘s full Met Gala 2025 coverage, including the red carpet arrivals.