Gladys Knight is thanking fans for their love and prayers amid renewed concerns about her health and whether she should continue performing.
The 82-year-old music legend shared a statement on Instagram Wednesday, Oct. 21, expressing gratitude for the support.
“To the true fans… THANK YOU… your love, kind words, prayers, support and well wishes are deeply appreciated! I am so blessed with my talents and moreover in the phenomenal people who continue to cherish me and my music! I love you all!” the statement read.
It was released just days after Stephanie Mills, 69, said Knight showed signs of dementia while they were performing together on The Queens Tour.
During a recent appearance on BET’s The Jason Lee Show, Mills said she witnessed Knight struggling.
“She was having problems, the early stages of dementia. But she still sounded amazing. But she was a little confused,” Mills said.
The Queens Tour kicked off in May 2025, bringing together Knight and Mills, alongside Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan.
Mills suggested Knight’s husband and business manager, William McDowell, should stop the singer from touring.
“I think it’s the responsibility of her husband, but I don’t think she should still be out there [performing] even though they’ll say ‘oh, well she wants to be.’ I don’t really believe that,” said Mills.
In August, TMZ published an article saying Knight “looked totally out of it at multiple concerts.” McDowell told the outlet the singer had not been diagnosed with dementia, although he did admit she is in declining health.
“No one is ever gonna make me say, ‘My wife is well,’ but all she wants to do is sing,” he said.
After the article went viral, Knight signaled in September that she planned to wind down her touring career once she completes her remaining performances this year.
The singer said she had discussed the decision with her team and was looking forward to spending time with her family.
However, the announcement did not give specifics on whether she would stop performing entirely or instead reduce her schedule.
For now, the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer still has at least three November performances listed, according to published reports and the venue websites.
Those appearances include the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center in The Villages, Florida, on Nov. 1. Plus at Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom in Santa Ynez, California, on Nov. 13. And the Yaamava’ Theater in Highland, California, on Nov. 14.
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