Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She had popular songs in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group, Gladys Knight & the Pips. The group included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten. She has won seven Grammy Awards (four as a solo artist and three with the Pips) and is often called the "Empress of Soul."

Knight had two number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "That's What Friends Are For," which she recorded with Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder. She also had eleven number-one R&B songs and six number-one R&B albums. In 1989, she recorded the theme song for the James Bond movie Licence to Kill.

Two of her songs, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia," were added to the Grammy Hall of Fame for their historical, artistic, and significant value. She is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame with the Pips. Rolling Stone magazine listed her among the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2010. She has also received the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors.

Early life

Gladys Knight was born on May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Sarah Elizabeth (born as Woods), who worked as a nurse's aide, and Merald Woodlow Knight Sr., who worked as a postal worker. Her parents were members of the church choir and a local choir group. She has one sister named Brenda and two brothers named Merald "Bubba" Jr. and David "Billy."

Gladys was raised in the Baptist church and began singing gospel music at the age of four at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Atlanta. At age eight, she won a contest on the TV show The Original Amateur Hour by singing Nat King Cole's song "Too Young." Soon after, Gladys, her brother Bubba, her sister Brenda, and her cousins Eleanor and William Guest performed together during Bubba's tenth birthday party after a record player broke. The group later formed a musical group with the help of Gladys's mother. They named the group The Pips, inspired by the nickname of their cousin and manager, James "Pip" Woods.

The Pips performed at church events, talent shows, and clubs, sometimes opening for famous musicians. In 1957, they signed with Brunswick Records and began recording and releasing songs. After some members left and others joined, the group released their first album in 1960 when Gladys was 16 years old. By that time, she had already recorded five songs and released her first hit single, "Every Beat of My Heart." The group's success was temporarily paused when Gladys left to start a family with her husband, Jimmy Newman, a musician. She later returned and continued performing.

Gladys attended the historic Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta. She later transferred to Archer High School and graduated from there.

Success with the Pips

Gladys Knight & the Pips joined Motown Records in 1966. At that time, they had only three songs that had been successful: "Every Beat of My Heart," "Giving Up," and "Letter Full of Tears." Motown did not consider them the main group at first, but they later achieved major success with songs like "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (number one in 1967, later released by Marvin Gaye), "The Nitty Gritty" (1969), "Friendship Train" (1969), "If I Were Your Woman" (1970), "I Don't Want to Do Wrong" (1971), the Grammy Award-winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" (1972), and "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)" (1973). During their early years with Motown, Gladys Knight and the Pips performed as the opening act for Diana Ross and the Supremes. Gladys Knight later wrote in her memoirs that Ross asked her to leave the tour because the audience's reaction to Knight's performances was so strong that it overshadowed Ross's. Berry Gordy, Motown's founder, later told Knight that she had made his act difficult.

In 1973, the group left Motown for a better deal with Buddah Records. That same year, they achieved even greater success with hits like the Grammy-winning "Midnight Train to Georgia" (number one on pop and R&B charts), "I've Got to Use My Imagination," "The Way We Were/Try to Remember," and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me." In 1974, Knight and the Pips recorded the soundtrack for the film Claudine with producer Curtis Mayfield. The soundtrack included songs like "On and On," "The Makings of You," and "Make Yours a Happy Home."

The group was especially successful in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom. Some of their Buddah Records singles became popular in the UK years after they were released in the United States. For example, "Midnight Train to Georgia" reached the Top 5 of the UK singles chart in 1976, three years after its success in the U.S.

Knight and the Pips continued to have hits until the late 1970s. At that time, legal issues forced them to record separately, leading to Knight's first solo recordings: Miss Gladys Knight (1978) on Buddah and Gladys Knight (1979) on Columbia Records. After divorcing James Newman II in 1973, Knight married Barry Hankerson, who was an aide to Detroit mayor Coleman Young. Knight and Hankerson remained married for four years and had a son, Shanga Ali. They later had a legal fight over custody of Shanga Ali. In 1980, Johnny Mathis invited Knight to record two duets: "When a Child Is Born" (previously a hit for Mathis) and "The Lord's Prayer."

In 1980, Gladys Knight & the Pips signed with Columbia Records and returned to their usual group of four members. They worked with former Motown producers Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson for their first two albums: About Love (1980), which included the hit "Landlord," and Touch (1981).

In 1983, the group had another hit with "Save the Overtime (For Me)." The song, created under the guidance of Leon Sylvers III (known for working with Shalamar), was in a soulful boogie style. It reached number 66 on the Hot 100 but was more successful on the R&B chart, where it hit number one for one week in mid-1983. This was the first time the group reached number one on the R&B chart since 1974. The music video for the song included early elements of hip hop culture. The album also included the R&B hit "You're Number One (In My Book)."

In 1987, Knight decided to pursue a solo career. She and the Pips recorded their final LP together, All Our Love (1987), for MCA Records. The lead single, "Love Overboard," was a number-one R&B hit and won another Grammy for the group. After a successful 1988 tour, the Pips retired, and Knight began her solo career. Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1989, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

In 1994, Quaker Oats launched a high-profile advertising campaign for Aunt Jemima, featuring Knight as the brand's first celebrity spokesperson. The campaign aimed to modernize the brand's image and address criticism about its history of racial stereotyping in advertising. A major television commercial featuring Knight first aired on October 22, 1994. This time, Knight officially replaced the Aunt Jemima character and appeared as herself in the ad. Her real children were shown in the commercial. The campaign included a new jingle, "Now You're Cookin'!" Although the campaign was initially seen as a positive step, it faced controversy. Some people believed it helped humanize the brand, while others, including civil rights advocates, argued that using a Black celebrity to promote a brand with a history of racial stereotypes was historically exploitative. Despite this, the Aunt Jemima brand and image were retired in 2021 and replaced with a new Pearl Milling Company logo.

Solo career and other musical endeavors

While still part of the Pips, Gladys Knight worked with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John on the 1985 AIDS benefit song "That's What Friends Are For." The song reached number one on the charts and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Group.

In 1986, Knight performed with Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle on the HBO special Sisters in the Name of Love, which she helped produce. She received three ACE Awards for Performance in a Music Special and was nominated for Best Music Special and Costume Design in 1987. On March 27, 1988, Knight sang "America the Beautiful" at WrestleMania 4 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 1989, she recorded "Licence to Kill," the title song for the James Bond movie of the same name. The song reached the Top 10 in the UK and Germany.

Knight released her third solo album, Good Woman, in 1991. The album reached number one on the R&B chart and included the number two R&B hit "Men." It also reached number 45 on the Billboard chart, her highest chart position ever. The album featured "Superwoman," written by Babyface and performed with Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle. The song was nominated for a Grammy. That same year, Knight and Patti LaBelle collaborated on "I Don't Do Duets" for LaBelle's album Burnin'. In 1991, Knight sang the national anthem at Game 1 of the World Series.

Her fourth solo album, Just for You, was certified Gold and nominated for a 1995 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Her fifth solo album, At Last, earned her a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Album in 2000.

Knight created and leads the Mormon-themed choir Saints Unified Voices (SUV). SUV released a Grammy Award-winning CD titled One Voice and performs at LDS church events.

In April 2004, Knight performed at the VH1 benefit concert Divas Live 2004 with Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Jessica Simpson, Joss Stone, Debbie Harry, and Patti LaBelle. The event supported the Save the Music Foundation.

In 2005, Knight and Ray Charles recorded a duet of "You Were There" for Charles' album Genius & Friends.

In 2008, Knight performed at the "Divas with Heart" concert with Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and Diana Ross to support heart research. That same year, Knight, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., and Ben Stiller performed on American Idol to raise money for charity.

In 2009, Knight sang "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and "The Lord's Prayer" at Michael Jackson's funeral.

In September 2011, a new version of Shirley Bassey's 1960s song "I (Who Have Nothing)" was released on iTunes and Amazon.

In 2013, Knight recorded "You and I Ain't Nothin' No More," written and produced by Lenny Kravitz, for the movie The Butler. The song was added to the film's soundtrack to qualify for an Academy Award nomination for Best Song.

Where My Heart Belongs (2014) was Knight's 30th top-40 R&B album, including work by Gladys Knight & the Pips. In a 2014 interview, Knight expressed hope that women would "Stand Up" and stop selling sex in the entertainment industry. She said she was taught to dress respectfully for audiences. Knight is ranked number 18 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock.

In 2019, Knight sang the national anthem at Super Bowl LIII. She faced criticism for performing after Colin Kaepernick was reportedly blacklisted by the NFL for protesting police brutality. She defended her decision, saying she understood Kaepernick's reasons but criticized his actions during the anthem.

In 2019, Knight performed at the 100th Anniversary of Delaware State Fair in Harrington, Delaware.

In 2022, Knight received the Kennedy Center Honors, presented by President Joe Biden. She also headlined a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner at the White House.

In October 2009, Knight began her farewell tour of the United Kingdom, with Tito Jackson as a supporting act and special appearances by Dionne Warwick. The tour had more elaborate production than previous performances in the UK. A glossy program was available, and the show included pre-recorded animation on large screens. Knight appeared on the TV program Later… with Jools Holland, where she performed "If I Were Your Woman" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night."

Despite calling it a farewell, Knight returned to the UK for performances in Scotland and England in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024. A farewell tour of Australia and New Zealand was planned for March 2024.

Acting

In 1976, Knight began her acting career by playing the main character in the movie Pipe Dreams. She was considered for a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. In 2003, she had a small role in the movie Hollywood Homicide, which included actors Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett. In 2009, Knight appeared in I Can Do Bad All by Myself, a movie based on a play by Tyler Perry. She also performed a song called "The Need To Be" from her 1974 album I Feel a Song.

In 1975, Knight was the main performer on a TV show called The Gladys Knight and the Pips Show, which ended after four episodes. She also appeared in several TV shows during the 1980s and 1990s, including Benson, The Jeffersons, A Different World, Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show, and New York Undercover. In 1985, she acted in the CBS sitcom Charlie & Co., which starred comedian Flip Wilson. The show lasted for one season.

In April 2005, Knight played a singer in an episode of JAG. In April 2009, she made a special appearance on House of Payne and sang a song. She also appeared briefly in TV shows such as Las Vegas and 30 Rock. In 2012, she started a regular role in the TV sitcom The First Family.

In 2012, Knight participated in season 14 of Dancing with the Stars, where she danced with Tristan MacManus. They were removed from the competition on April 24 after losing a dance competition to Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower during the show's "Motown Week" episode.

In 2017, Knight appeared as herself in the musical drama series Star. In 2018, she played the mother of Captain Lou Grover in an episode of Hawaii Five-0 titled "Lele pū nā manu like" ("Birds of a Feather…"). The episode aired on November 16, 2018.

In February 2019, it was announced that Knight competed on the first season of The Masked Singer under the name "Bee." She finished in third place. During the competition, she performed songs such as "Chandelier," "Locked Out of Heaven," "Wrecking Ball," "What's Love Got to Do with It," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," and "I Can't Make You Love Me." She placed behind Donny Osmond, who performed as "Peacock," and T-Pain, who performed as "Monster."

Business ventures

Shanga Hankerson, the son of singer Gladys Knight, owns a chain of chicken and waffles restaurants in Atlanta. The restaurants are named after Gladys Knight and Ron Winans. The chain opened three locations in the Atlanta area, and one of them was shown on the Travel Channel program Man v. Food. In June 2016, officials in Georgia searched two of the restaurants and the company’s main office.

In 2016, a news station called WSB-TV reported that Hankerson was being investigated for not paying taxes, fines, and interest. A representative from the Georgia Department of Revenue said the investigation was only about Hankerson and did not involve Gladys Knight.

Personal life

In 1960, Knight married James "Jimmy" Newman, an Atlanta musician and her high school sweetheart. The couple experienced a miscarriage and later had two children. Their son, James "Jimmy" Gaston Newman III, was born in 1962, and their daughter, Kenya Maria Newman, was born in 1963. In the early 1960s, Knight’s family and the Pips moved to Detroit. They lived in Sherwood Forest, a high-end neighborhood on Detroit’s West Side. Knight stopped traveling to raise their children while the Pips continued touring independently. Later, Newman returned as the group’s musical director. Newman later struggled with drug addiction and left the family when Knight was 20. They remained married for over 12 years, separated for 7 years, and divorced in 1973. Newman passed away a few years after their divorce.

In 1974, Knight married Barry Hankerson, founder of Blackground Records, in Detroit. The couple had a son, Shanga Ali Hankerson, born on August 1, 1976. Around 1977, they moved to Las Vegas. Their marriage ended in 1979 after a long legal battle over custody of their son. Knight spent over a million dollars searching for her son after he was kidnapped. In 1995, Knight married motivational speaker Les Brown, and they divorced in 1997.

Knight was raised as a Baptist, later became a Catholic, and was baptized in 1997 into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This decision was influenced by her daughter and son, who had left Catholicism to join the church. She occasionally joked with LDS president Gordon B. Hinckley, suggesting the church needed more energy in its music. Hinckley agreed, leading to the creation of the Saints Unified Voices gospel choir, which Knight directed. In 2018, Knight led the Be One Choir at the "Be One" event in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Knight received an honorary doctorate from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her son, Jimmy Newman III, managed her career through Newman Management Inc. until his death from heart failure on July 10, 1999, at age 36. He was survived by his wife, Michelene; daughters Nastasia and Gabrielle; and sons Rishawn, Stefan, and Sterling. After his death, her daughter Kenya Jackson took over management.

Knight married William McDowell in 2001. Together, they have seventeen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Knight and McDowell live in Fairview, North Carolina, near their community center, which is located at the former Reynolds High School in Canton, where McDowell attended school.

Linebacker Demetrius Knight is related to Knight through their family; he and Gladys are "distant cousins."

In 2017, Knight helped raise $400,000 for the Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County in Stamford, Connecticut. The event took place at the Palace Theatre and was co-hosted by Carol Anne Riddell and Alan Kalter.

Knight struggled with a gambling addiction for over a decade. In the late 1980s, after losing $60,000 in one night playing baccarat, she joined Gamblers Anonymous, a support group that helped her quit the habit.

Legacy

In 1996, Gladys Knight & the Pips were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. One year earlier, Knight received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, Knight was given the Society of Singers ELLA Award, and at that time, she was called the "Empress of Soul." Rolling Stone listed her as one of the Greatest Singers of All Time. In 2021, Knight received the National Medal of Arts. In 2022, she was honored with a Kennedy Center Honor. In 2023, Knight was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Discography

• Miss Gladys Knight (1978)
• Gladys Knight (1979)
• Good Woman (1991)
• Just for You (1994)
• Many Different Roads (1998)
• At Last (2000)
• One Voice (with Saints Unified Voices ) (2005)
• Before Me (2006)
• Another Journey (2013)
• Where My Heart Belongs (2014)

Published works

• Gladys Knight. At Home With Gladys Knight, McGraw-Hill, 2001 – ISBN 1-58040-075-2
• Gladys Knight. Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story, Hyperion Press, 1998 – ISBN 0-7868-8371-5

Awards, honors, and achievements

Knight has won seven Grammy Awards and has been nominated twenty-two times in total.

• 1992: Essence Award for Career Achievement
• 1995: Hollywood Walk of Fame
• 1996: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• 1997: Trumpet Awards Foundation Pinnacle Award
• 2005: BET Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2007: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist
• 2007: Society of Singers Ella Award, also declared the "Empress of Soul"
• 2008: BET Inaugural Best Living Legend Award
• 2008: National Black Arts Festival Honoree at Legends Celebration
• 2011: Soul Train Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2017: National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame
• 2019: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
• 2021: National Medal of Arts
• 2022: 45th Annual Kennedy Center Honors

• Honorary Doctorate in Performing Arts, Shaw University