Gladys Knight has announced she’s cutting down on performances as she enters a “new era.”
“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,” the seven-time Grammy winner said in an Instagram post. “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 continued, “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.”
Knight is currently on a solo tour and recently wrapped her time on the road for The Queens Tour alongside Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills. However, in her statement, Knight did not rule out all future live performances, writing, “I hope to see your smiling faces out and about on the road. God bless all of you and hope to see you soon.”
The announcement follows her July performance at the Hollywood Bowl with Smokey Robinson, which sparked some concern for the singer. In a recap of the performance, Billboard wrote that Knight “barely got through this show, and only by leaning heavily on her backup singers.”
Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson, has shared his apprehensions about his mother’s busy life on tour. He previously told People in 2025 that her touring schedule was “detrimental” to her health, alleging that her husband, William McDowell, has been “mental[ly] and financial[ly]” abusive to Knight.
“I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom’s best interest, and he has not done that,” Hankerson said. “Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she’s being made to believe that she has to work like this? That’s really my issue with it.”
Knight refuted her son’s claims in a statement with People.
“I’m sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented. I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?” she said. “I’m healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I’m excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon.”
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