ATLANTA, GA — Legendary Atlanta-born singer Gladys Knight says she plans to complete her remaining performances in 2026 before shifting her attention toward a new chapter, as public discussion surrounding the 82-year-old entertainer’s health and touring schedule continues.
Knight recently indicated that she intends to finish the year with her remaining scheduled appearances while looking forward to new ventures in 2027. The update follows an August announcement in which the seven-time Grammy winner said she planned to reduce the number of live performances she takes on and spend more time with family.
The situation has also become the center of a family disagreement. Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson, has publicly expressed concerns about his mother continuing to tour and has accused her husband and manager, William McDowell, of keeping her on a demanding performance schedule. Those claims are allegations from Hankerson and have not been established as fact.
McDowell has pushed back against suggestions that Knight is being forced to perform. He has said she wants to continue singing and has denied reports suggesting she has been diagnosed with dementia. Knight herself has previously disputed portrayals of her health, saying in an earlier statement that she was doing well and that reports about her condition and performances had been misrepresented.
Concerns intensified following some recent concerts, where audience members raised questions about Knight’s performance and the assistance she received from background singers. At the same time, other concertgoers have reported seeing strong moments from the longtime performer, making the discussion surrounding her condition more complicated than some social-media clips suggest.
What appears clear is that Knight is scaling back rather than announcing a full retirement. Her recent comments suggest the remaining 2026 shows could represent some of her final regular touring appearances before she moves toward fewer performances and other projects.
Known around the world as the “Empress of Soul,” Knight has spent more than seven decades entertaining audiences. Her career with Gladys Knight & the Pips and as a solo performer produced classics including “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Neither One of Us” and “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.” She has won seven Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Pips in 1996.
For generations of fans, Knight’s decision to begin stepping away from a demanding touring schedule could mark the closing of one chapter in an extraordinary career — but the singer has made it clear she is looking toward a new era, not simply saying goodbye
(Photo by Scott Legato/WireImage)
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