Gladys Knight is taking the Midnight Train for some rest and relaxation from her live performances, scaling back as she enters what she describes as the next stage of her life and career.
The “Empress of Soul” announced her decision on social media Thursday, August 27, after “much soul searching,” to ease back some into fewer performances. Knight said the change will allow her to venture into a new era in her life—spending more time working on projects with her husband, William McDowell, and visiting her grandchildren.
The 82-year-old also thanked her fans, who supported her throughout her career.
“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,” she wrote.
Knight’s announcement comes amid increased public concern surrounding several of her recent performances. Videos circulating online have raised concerns about the singer’s well-being, including footage from a July 25th performance at the Hollywood Bowl where she appeared to lose her place during her “Midnight Train to Georgia” performance and attempted to walk off before being guided back on stage. At an August 18th performance in Detroit, Knight appeared exhausted and reportedly took several breaks.
TMZ recently posted a video showing the Atlanta, Georgia, native with her back turned to the crowd as she looked at her back-up singers while they carried the song. The video had critics expressing concerns about her performing, questioning whether she should continue touring.
Knight’s husband and manager, William McDowell, told the outlet that Knight wants to continue performing and acknowledged that she has good and bad days, noting that she’s not diagnosed with dementia but she would see a doctor in the near future for an evaluation.
The recent concerns have also brought renewed attention to a family dispute involving Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson. In 2025, Hankerson publicly raised concerns about his mother’s health to the Shade Room and alleged that McDowell was pushing Knight to continue performing despite her condition. He also said he filed a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and with authorities in Buncombe County, where she resides, alleging elder abuse.
The Department of Health’s guidelines keep the case’s outcome confidential. Knight strongly rejected her son’s characterization of her health and circumstances, saying at the time that she was “healthy and happy” and that her health and performances had been misrepresented.
Knight’s latest announcement does not indicate that she is retiring completely. Her husband told TMZ that his wife’s Sept. 5th performance will be the determining factor for whether she can continue on with other dates scheduled through November. McDowell also announced that he’s developing a performance facility near their North Carolina home to allow Knight to continue singing without the demands of touring.
The seven-time Grammy winner ended her message by thanking fans for their decades of support and saying she hopes to continue seeing them “out and about and on the road.”
