Gladys Knight, an 82-year-old singer known for hits like "Midnight Train To Georgia", has announced she is scaling back her live concerts to focus on other aspects of her life and career. She will reduce her future performances after a music career spanning seven decades. According to Knight's statement, she plans to spend more time with her family and pursue new projects with her husband. This decision comes as her son Shanga Hankerson claimed in 2025 that touring was detrimental to his mother's health.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Gladys Knight, an 82-year-old singer who has had a music career spanning seven decades, is scaling back her live concerts as she transitions into the next stage of her life. She will be reducing her future performances and focusing on other projects, including spending time with her family. In a statement, Knight expressed gratitude to her fans for their support over the years and thanked them in advance for their understanding. This decision comes after her son said in an interview that touring was "detrimental" to her health, suggesting it may have been driven by her husband's wishes rather than her own. Knight will continue to perform but at a more limited pace, allowing her to focus on other areas of her life and career.
Written for “Gladys Knight Retirement” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 2916 · logged 2026-08-28
Gladys Knight has revealed she is scaling back her live concerts as she transitions "into the next stage" of her career and life.
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she → reveal → career
The 82-year-old singer, who has spent this year on tour, intends to reduce her future performances after a music career that has spanned seven decades.
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that → spend → decades
The performer, known for hits like “Midnight Train To Georgia” and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, thanked her fans for their support over the years.
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I → know → years
In a statement, she said: “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.
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I → say → career
“I’ll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era.”
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I → spend → era
She added: “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.
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dream → add → way
“I am immensely grateful to all of you and send my eternal love back to you.
“
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I → send → you
I hope to see your smiling faces out and about and on the road.
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I → hope → road
“God bless all of you and hope to see you soon.”
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God → bless → you
In August 2025, Knight’s son Shanga Hankerson said in an interview with People magazine that touring was “detrimental” to his mother’s health and was mostly at the behest of her husband, William McDowell.
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touring → say → husband
Terms apply.
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Terms → apply → ?
If you sign up to this service we will earn commission.
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we → sign → commission
This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
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revenue → help → Independent
Knight rejected these claims in a statement, saying: “I’m sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented.
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health → reject → statement
“I’m healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months.”
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I → ’m → friends
Her publicist Laura Herlovich said the singer was “greatly saddened” by her son’s “unfounded allegations”, adding that he has “no substantial contact” with his mother.
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he → say → mother
Knight, from Atlanta, Georgia, won The Original Amateur Hour TV contest at the age of eight and began performing with her family band, The Pips.
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Knight → win → band
Their debut album was released in 1960 when Knight was 16 years old.
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Knight → release → 1960
She began her solo career in the late 1970s and recorded the theme song for the James Bond film Licence To Kill in 1989.
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She → begin → 1989
Knight has received numerous honours throughout her career including inductions into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and Vocal Group Hall Of Fame with The Pips.
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Knight → receive → Pips
Rolling Stone magazine ranked her as one of the top 100 best singers of all time in 2010.
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magazine → rank → 2010
