Diana Ross Cancels Royal Caribbean Godmother Gig Ahead of U.S. Tour

Hi, I’m Avery Sinclair. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.

Diana Ross has quietly pulled out of her scheduled appearance as godmother of Royal Caribbean’s new ship, Star of the Seas, citing “unforeseen circumstances,” and yes, before you ask, that phrase means exactly what it has meant in press releases since forever: something inconvenient came up and the public gets a vague excuse. Royal Caribbean confirmed on August 13 that the music legend will no longer attend the three-day showcase cruise set to kick off on August 20, despite being formally named the ship’s godmother back in June.

Let’s keep the facts straight. Royal Caribbean told E! News they are “disappointed” Diana will not join the event and promised to announce a new godmother soon. Diana’s team told People the cancellation was due to “unforeseen circumstances.” That is the official line and yes, it is annoyingly vague, but both statements come from reputable outlets reporting direct comments from the cruise line and the singer’s representatives.

This pullout comes at a busy time for the 81-year-old icon. She wrapped a U.K. arena tour in July and is scheduled to start her Beautiful Love U.S. tour on August 16, a tight schedule that could explain a need to regroup. Ross has been open about prioritizing her health and family lately; earlier this year she brought an 18-foot train embroidered with her children’s and grandchildren’s names to the Met Gala, a stunt that was equal parts showbiz and family flex. She told People upon accepting the godmother role that the ocean has always held special meaning for her, and that the appointment was about “joy and family fun,” with the whole brood invited to the ship event.

So what changed between June and mid-August? We do not have a detailed medical update or a scheduling memo. What we do have is a pattern of travel and performance commitments: a U.K. tour, a Met Gala appearance on May 6 with full-on couture and hat theatrics, and a U.S. tour start date that falls dangerously close to the cruise’s opening. Given those public commitments, it is perfectly reasonable to suspect logistics, fatigue, or caution around health and travel played a role. But that is speculation; the only confirmed sources are the cruise line’s statement to E! News and Ross’s rep speaking to People.

Royal Caribbean is already promising a replacement godmother, leaving industry watchers and superfans to wonder who will get the honor and whether this was planned as a contingency. Will they go for another music legend, a Hollywood royalty, or some influencer with a better travel schedule? Your guess is as good as mine, but expect the cruise line to pick someone who brings splashy headlines and pictures with party hats.

Let’s be clear: Diana Ross remains an active, touring artist with a packed calendar and a public emphasis on family and well-being. None of the available sources hint at scandal, and both statements that confirmed the cancellation are measured and professional. Still, when a person of Ross’s stature cancels a ceremonial appearance, gossip writers and travel PR teams start spinning wild conjecture. I’m not buying the conspiracy theories; for now, take the official explanation at face value and watch for the replacement announcement.

Keep your eyes peeled next week. Royal Caribbean will name a new godmother, Diana will either show up on tour or reschedule personal appearances, and the internet will remix the whole saga into meme fodder. That’s how this circus rolls.

And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, People
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed