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NewsAugust, 28 Gladys Knight to Cut Back on Performances
Gladys Knight has announced she will be "easing into fewer performances" after a recent show raised concerns about her health. The 82-year-old singer, known for hits like Midnight Train to Georgia, appeared confused on stage, staring off to the side during a song and letting her backup singers carry the performance. A Billboard review was blunt: "She barely got through this show, and only by leaning heavily on her backup singers. Artists need to know when it's time to bow out gracefully." In a statement following the performance, Knight explained her decision: "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. I'll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era." She also thanked her fans: "I'd like to take a moment, in advance, to thank all my fans over this last three quarters of a century for making a little girl's dream come true and supporting her every step of the way. I am immensely grateful to all of you and send my eternal love back to you. I hope to see your smiling faces out and about and on the road. God bless all of you and hope to see you soon." Her husband and manager, William McDowell, told TMZ that Knight wants to continue performing. However, tour staff believe she is "showing symptoms of dementia," though McDowell says she has not been evaluated by a doctor. He added that if she has a "rough night" at her next show on September 5, he will cancel her upcoming performances. Last year, Knight's son, Shanga Hankerson, accused McDowell of emotionally and financially abusing his mother and forcing her to perform. Knight denied those claims.
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