Motown legend Gladys Knight has broken her silence amid fan concerns over her “confused” onstage performance at recent shows.
The singing sensation, 82, known to her fans as the Empress of Soul, has been busy touring this year, both solo shows and co-headlining performances with Smokey Robinson.
However, fans have raised concerns about her behavior on stage, with video clips from her recent concerts showing the star staring off to the side and letting her backing singers carry the performance.
During her show at the Hollywood Bowl on July 25, the Midnight Train to Georgia hitmaker turned her back on the audience and began walking offstage, shaking off a backup singer’s attempt to stop her.
A source said TMZ that some people working on her tour are concerned that she is “showing symptoms of dementia,” although her husband and manager, William McDowell — who was accused of elder abuse by Knight’s son last year — told the newspaper that she has not yet been examined by a doctor.
Amid the ongoing concerns, Knight released a statement to TMZ on Thursday announcing that she will be “making fewer appearances” in the future.
The Daily Mail has contacted Knight’s representatives for comment.
Motown legend Gladys Knight, 82, has broken her silence amid fan concerns over her ‘confused’ on-stage performance at recent shows; Pictured in 2024
Knight’s full statement read: “After much soul searching, I have decided that I will be doing fewer performances while I focus on transitioning to the next phase of my career and future life.”
“I’ll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting my grandchildren, and I’m looking forward to this new era,” she said.
“I just want to take a moment in advance to thank all my fans over the past three-quarters of a century for making one little girl’s dream come true and for supporting her every step of the way.”
‘I am deeply grateful to all of you and send my eternal love back to you. I hope to see your smiling faces everywhere and along the way. God bless you all and I hope to see you again soon.”
It comes after her husband, who is 33 years younger than Knight, said TMZ that the star still wants to perform but has good and bad days, amid concerns from fans that she is being ‘forced’ to take the stage.
“No one will ever make me say, ‘My wife is healthy,’ but all she wants to do is sing,” he told the outlet.
McDowell also said that Knight has not been diagnosed with dementia, but that they will see the doctor in the future to assess whether she has the condition.
Knight has tour dates scheduled through mid-November, but her husband said he will be closely watching her September 5 show to determine whether to cancel her remaining dates.
Fans have expressed concerns about her on-stage behavior, with clips from her recent concerts showing the star staring off to the side and trying to walk off stage; Seen performance in May
Amid the ongoing concerns, Knight released a statement to TMZ on Thursday announcing that she will be “making fewer appearances” in the future; Pictured in 2024
A source told TMZ that some people working on her tour are concerned that she is “showing symptoms of dementia,” although her husband and manager, William McDowell, told the network that she has not yet been evaluated by a doctor; The two seen in 2018
Her husband, who is 33 years Knight’s junior, told the outlet that the hitmaker still wants to perform amid concerns from fans that she is being “forced” to take the stage; Seen 2018
The singing sensation has been busy touring this year, performing both solo shows and co-headlining with Smokey Robinson; Seen with Smokey and Jon Batiste in February
Her husband also said he is building a building near their home in North Carolina where his wife can continue to perform without having to travel.
People involved with Knight’s tour reportedly called the situation “tragic” while speaking to TMZ.
A source also told the outlet that people spoke to Knight’s team before her Hollywood Bowl show and said it was “not appropriate” for her to be on stage.
The insider added that it is “embarrassing” that the star is being forced to perform.
According to TMZ, several fans left Knight’s show in Detroit early after she appeared exhausted and took several breaks offstage.
Billboard reviewed the singer’s Hollywood Bowl show from earlier this year, writing, “She is truly a unique singer, capable of both electrifying firepower and conversational ease, often in the same song.” But 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 gracefully.”
Last year, Knight set the record right after her son, Shanga Hankerson, publicly accused her husband of elder abuse.
In response to Hankerson’s claim that McDowell is abusing his mother, the hitmaker assured fans that she is doing just fine.
Last year, Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson (pictured), publicly accused her husband of elder abuse; although Knight denied the allegations
‘I want my fans and those involved to be assured that I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, isn’t it?’ she said The mail.
The seven-time Grammy winner continued, “I am healthy and happy and have been visiting friends and family for the past few months. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon.’
She also noted that her “health and achievements have been misrepresented.”
Her statement came after Hankerson filed a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Human Services.
The year before, her son told The Shade Room that his mother’s demanding touring schedule was “damaging” her health.
“I don’t want my mom going on tour on a tour bus wondering where she is,” Hankerson said.
In another interview, he told People, “I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mother’s best interest, and he didn’t do that.”
‘Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she is made to believe that this is how she has to work? That’s really my problem with it,” he explained.
The music icon is known for her classic hits including Midnight Train To Georgia, Help Me Make It Through The Night, James Bond-themed License To Kill, The Way We Were and You’re The Best Thing Ever Happened To Me; Pictured circa 1964
However, Knight’s representatives told the newspaper that her team is “deeply saddened by Shanga’s unfounded allegations” and that he “has not had any substantial contact with her.”
In response, Hankerson called the statement “inaccurate” and claimed to have been “purposefully kept in a position where he had minimal access” to his mother.
Knight and McDowell have been married for 24 years.
The music icon is known for her classic hits including Midnight Train To Georgia, Help Me Make It Through The Night, James Bond-themed License To Kill, The Way We Were and You’re The Best Thing Ever Happened To Me.
