At the time of Ross Kendrick’s birth, Diana Ross was married to her first husband, Robert Ellis Silberstein. Although Gordy, Ross, and Silberstein all knew of Rhonda’s parentage, she was publicly represented as Silberstein’s daughter. Although Gordy was always a close family friend, he became more fatherly toward her after she was informed of her true paternity when she was 13. She has said that the revelation came as a relief: she had previously found herself troubled over the stark physical differences she had noticed developing between herself and her two sisters, and now she was realizing the peace of having the explanation for these differences.
Rhonda Ross Kendrick is the eldest of Diana Ross’ five children. Her maternal half-siblings are:
- Tracee Joy Silberstein (sister; born October 29, 1972; known as Tracee Ellis Ross)
- Chudney Lane Silberstein (sister; born November 4, 1975; known as Chudney Ross)
- Ross Arne Naess (brother; born October 7, 1987)
- Evan Olav Naess, (brother; born August 26, 1988; known as Evan Ross)
She is the seventh of Berry Gordy’s eight children; her paternal half-siblings are:
- Hazel Joy Gordy (sister; born August 24, 1954)
- Berry Gordy IV (brother; born October 1955)
- Terry James Gordy (brother; born August 1956)
- Kerry Ashby Gordy (brother; born June 25, 1959)
- Sherry Gordy (sister; born May 23, 1960)
- Kennedy William Gordy (brother; born March 15, 1964) (sang briefly under the stage name Rockwell)
- Stefan Kendal Gordy (brother; born September 3, 1975) (known as Redfoo of the popular group LMFAO); Rhonda’s only younger paternal sibling.
