Trivia

Her orgasmic 16-minute song "Love to Love You Baby" was the first extended-release single, the mother of all dance maxi-singles.

In the summer of 1979, she became the first female artist in music history to have two hits in the Billboard Top 3 at the same time (with "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls"). She did it again in the fall with a #1 duet with Barbra Streisand and a #2 hit, "Dim All the Lights".

While residing in Germany in the late 1960s, she became a regular in the Munich production of the musical "Hair".

Was also an exhibited artist. She sold over $1.2 million in original art beginning in 1989; her most expensive piece sold for $150,000.

Bruce Springsteen, a great admirer of hers, wrote two songs for her. The first one, "Cover Me", he decided to use on his "Born in the USA" LP. The second song, "Protection", Donna recorded and Springsteen and his band supplied the music track. Donna and Bruce actually recorded the song as a duet, but that version has never been released.

Was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18, 2013.

Her grave is located in Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, a cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

Before her death, she was believed to have caught lung cancer by inhaling toxic particles following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. However, stories had painted a different picture, when Summer had contracted lung cancer, at the time she was singing in nightclubs, with smokers and she also had a family history of lung cancer, both of them claimed her life.

She and writer/producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte created an electronic, dance-driven sound that was the forerunner of today's "techno" music. Upon hearing the 1977 song "I Feel Love", Iggy Pop declared it the "future of music". Samples still continue today, most notably in Madonna's 2000 hit single "Music".

Was the first solo artist in history to have three consecutive #1 double-albums on the Billboard charts. The only other musical act to accomplish this feat was The Beatles.

Cited her 1978 hit "Last Dance" as her favorite of her own past recordings.

Only person to have guest-hosted Bandstand (1952).

She charted 30 #1 hits (singles and albums) on the Billboard Pop/R&B, Disco/Dance, Album charts combined, over a period of 33 years.

Gave birth to her first child at age 24, a daughter Mimi Sommer on February 16, 1973. Child's father is her now ex-first husband, Helmuth Sommer.

Gave birth to her second child at age 32, a daughter Brooklyn Sudano on January 5, 1981. Child's father is her now widowed second husband, Bruce Sudano.

Became a grandmother in 1997 when daughter Mimi gave birth to a baby girl, Vienna Dohler.

Has won five Grammy Awards with a career total of 18 nominations.

Was friends with Diana Ross, Dick Clark and Barry Manilow.

Was one of seven children of Andrew Gaines and Mary Ellen Gaines.

Gave birth to her third child at age 33, a daughter Amanda Sudano on August 11, 1982. Child's father is her now widowed second husband, Bruce Sudano.

Ranked #37 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock 'n' Roll.

In 1979, she was nominated for five American Music Awards and won three: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist (nominated), Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (nominated), Favorite Disco Artist Female (won), Favorite Disco Album: "Live & More" (won), Favorite Disco Single: "Last Dance" (won).

Ranked #24 on Billboard magazine's 50th Anniversary issue featuring the Hot 100 Artists of All Time.

Met musician and songwriter Nathan DiGesare in 1994. He went on to become one of Summer's most frequent collaborators, both in the studio and on tour. They continued to work together until her death.

Often cited Mahalia Jackson and Janis Joplin as two of her greatest musical influences.

Sister of Mary Ellen Bernard and Ricky Gaines.

In 1978, she became the first female artist in history to have a #1 single ("MacArthur Park") and a #1 album ("Live and More") simultaneously on the Billboard charts. She broke her own record just a few months later when her single "Hot Stuff" and the album "Bad Girls" both reached the #1 position on the Billboard charts at the same time.

Her nephew Robert Grant is a rapper who goes by the stage name O'Mega Red.

Ranked #80 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on March 18, 1992.

Held the most ranked dance songs on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs with "MacArthur Park" at #89, "I Feel Love" at #76, "Love to Love You Baby" at #63 and "Last Dance" at #6.

In 1980, she was nominated for four American Music Awards and won three: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist (won), Favorite Pop/Rock Album: "Bad Girls" (nominated), Favorite Pop/Rock Single: "Bad Girls" (won), Favorite Soul/R&B Artist (won).

Like fellow chart-topping disco diva Gloria Gaynor, Summer had six siblings. Although Summer had five sisters and one brother, whereas Gaynor had five brothers and one sister.

In August 2021, her recording of "Hot Stuff" was used in advertisements for the fast food chain Burger King to promote their spicy chicken sandwiches.

In the same situation as fellow singer Patti LaBelle, when she lost three sisters, carcinoma absolutely ran in her family, before Donna Summer, herself.

Grandmother of Joaquin Emmanuel Ramirez, Luna Ramirez, Palona Ramirez, Vienna Dohler, Levi Dohler, Savanna Dohler, and Isaiah Dohler.

Born at around 9:30 PM (EST), only two hours and 30 minutes away from being a New Year's Day Baby, in 1949.