Gladys Knight is entering what she calls a “new era” amid concerns for her health.
The Empress of Soul announced on Thursday, August 27, that she will cut back on performing as she shifts her focus toward other parts of her life and career.
“After much soul searching I’ve decided that I will be easing into fewer performances while focusing on transitioning into the next stage of my career and life moving forward,” Knight, 82, said in a statement shared on Instagram.
“I’ll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era.”
The announcement came after TMZreported that some of Knight’s recent performances had raised concerns among members of her tour staff. During her August 18 concert at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre, the multi-Grammy-winner reportedly took multiple breaks and appeared exhausted, while her July 25 show at the Hollywood Bowl also prompted questions after she appeared to lose her place during “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Knight’s husband and manager, William McDowell, pushed back on claims that she has dementia, telling TMZthat she has not been diagnosed with the condition but will undergo a medical evaluation.
“No one is ever gonna make me say, ‘My wife is well,’ but all she wants to do is sing,” he added.
2026-08-28 23:09:00
