Ross performed at NJPAC earlier this week.
Last night I presented legendary entertainer Ms. Diana Ross with the Key to the City on the occasion of her decades-long career and return to Newark! #njpac #WEARENEWARK
Posted by Ras J. Baraka on Thursday, September 17, 2015
NEWARK -- Legendary diva Diana Ross just wrapped her second concert in Newark in as many years, and to celebrate it, the city gave her a message - she can come back anytime.
Mayor Ras Baraka took a backstage moment at Ross's NJPAC concert this week to present the singer with a key to the city, he posted in a photo on his Facebook account.
"I presented legendary entertainer Ms. Diana Ross with the Key to the City on the occasion of her decades-long career and return to Newark," Baraka wrote in the post. The city declined to comment further on the key Friday.
NJPAC celebrated Ross's return (she performed at the Newark venue in 2013) with a stream of Twitter posts through her concert praising her performance.
Stop in the name of love! #DianaRoss is singing her Motown classics! #NJPAC pic.twitter.com/7Oenpiw4RF
-- NJPAC (@NJPAC) September 16, 2015
#DianaRoss shows us who's BOSS in this fabulous blue gown! #njpac pic.twitter.com/oairZ79u9x
-- NJPAC (@NJPAC) September 17, 2015
Ross is the latest visitor to Newark to receive its key. In June, Baraka presented a key to activist Al Sharpton. In 2013, then Mayor Luis Quintana presented a key to Giants punter and longtime community volunteer Steve Weatherford.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
