Gladys Knight to Cut Back on Performances After Troubling Videos

Gladys Knight plans to scale back live performances after recent concert videos left fans concerned about her well-being.

The 82-year-old music legend has been touring this year, performing solo shows and co-headlining concerts with Smokey Robinson as part of their “Just the Two of Us” shows.

But on Thursday evening, Aug. 27, TMZ published video that appeared to show Knight becoming disoriented onstage as her backup singers performed her signature hit, “Midnight Train to Georgia.”

In the video, Knight walked around the stage, spoke to members of her band, and reached out to embrace one of the singers.

Concertgoers posted videos from the same performance on social in July. One video uploaded by TikTok user @jaycee1233, said the performance took place in Rochester, New York. It had thousands of comments and was captioned: “Gladys Knight was a little lost during a performance of ‘Midnight Train To Georgia.'”

While many people praised Knight’s backup singers for continuing the song without missing a beat, others described the footage as “sad” and difficult to watch.

After the TMZ report went viral, a lengthy statement was posted to Knight’s verified Instagram account Thursday night, saying she would be scaling back her touring schedule.

“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 statement read.

“I’ll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era,” it continued.

Questions about Knight’s health previously surfaced in 2025 when her son, Shanga Hankerson, alleged she was showing signs of cognitive decline. During a video interview with The Shade Room last year, Hankerson said he wanted his mother to stop touring.

“I’m extremely concerned,” he shared. “I don’t want my mom out on tour, on a tour bus wondering where she’s at.”

Hankerson said he filed a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services accusing Knight’s husband and manager, William McDowell, of elder abuse. He alleged McDowell was pressuring the singer to remain on the road.

At the time, Knight pushed back against the allegations and said she was “healthy and happy.” Her reps called Hankerson’s claims unfounded.

McDowell is Knight’s fourth husband. The couple married in 2001.

Known as the “Empress of Soul,” Knight was born in Atlanta on May 28, 1944. She began singing gospel music as a child and later formed a family group that became known as Gladys Knight & the Pips.

The group scored a string of hits, including “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye).” After Gladys Knight & the Pips disbanded in 1989, she continued her successful solo career.

Over the years, she has won seven Grammy Awards, according to Grammy.com. Among her other awards were a Kennedy Center Honor in 2022, and President Joe Biden presented her with a National Medal of Arts during a White House ceremony in 2023.

You can read Knight’s full statement below: