View source for Gladys Knight

{{Short description|American singer (born 1944)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Gladys Knight
| image             = Gladys_Knight_1997.jpg
| caption           = Knight in 1997
| birth_name        = Gladys Maria Knight
| alias             = The Empress of Soul
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1944|5|28}}
| birth_place       = [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Soul music|Soul]]|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[Gospel music|gospel]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|actress}}
| years_active      = 1948–present
| past_member_of    = [[Gladys Knight & The Pips]]
| label             = {{hlist|[[Vee-Jay Records|Vee-Jay]]|[[Motown]]|[[Buddah Records|Buddah]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[Verve Records|Verve]]}}
| spouse            = {{unbulleted list
| {{marriage|James Newman|1960|1973|end=divorced}}
| {{marriage|[[Barry Hankerson]]|1974|1979|end=divorced}}
| {{marriage|[[Les Brown (speaker)|Les Brown]]|1995|1997|end=divorced}}
| {{marriage|William McDowell|2001}}
}}
| website           = {{URL|gladysknight.com}}
}}

'''Gladys Maria Knight''' (born May 28, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]], which included her brother [[Merald "Bubba" Knight]] and cousins [[William Guest (singer)|William Guest]] and [[Edward Patten]]. She has won <!--PLEASE DO NOT EDIT: SEE EDIT SUMMARY - SHE DID NOT WIN TEN NOTWITHSTANDING MASKED SINGER-->seven Grammy Awards (four as a solo artist and three with the Pips),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gladys Knight {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/gladys-knight/16951 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=grammy.com}}</ref> and is often referred to as the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|Empress of Soul]]".<ref name="knight1">{{cite web |title=The Voice, Winter 2007, Society of Singer's 16th Ella Awards |url=http://www.singers.org/pages/thevoice29.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227210957/http://www.singers.org/pages/thevoice29.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2008 |access-date=August 18, 2015 |website=Singers.org}}</ref><ref name="knight2">{{cite web |date=September 22, 2010 |title="Empress of Soul" Gladys Knight will be giving a special performance at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, November 7 |url=http://www.braintrustlv.com/newsroom/%E2%80%9Cempress-of-soul%E2%80%9D-gladys-knight-will-be-giving-a-special-performance-at-morongo-casino-resort-spa-november-7/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315060018/http://www.braintrustlv.com/newsroom/%E2%80%9Cempress-of-soul%E2%80%9D-gladys-knight-will-be-giving-a-special-performance-at-morongo-casino-resort-spa-november-7/ |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |access-date=August 18, 2015 |website=Braintrustlv.com}}</ref>

Knight has recorded two number-one [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles ("[[Midnight Train to Georgia]]" and "[[That's What Friends Are For]]" which she did with [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Elton John]] and [[Stevie Wonder]]), eleven number-one [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B singles]] and six number-one [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|R&B albums]]. In 1989, Knight recorded the [[Licence to Kill (song)|theme song]] for the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Licence to Kill]]''. 
[[File:P20240610AS-0597 (53797936535).jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Knight performing at the White House, 2024]]

Two of her songs ("[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]" and "Midnight Train to Georgia") were inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] for "historical, artistic and significant" value.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 16, 2018 |title=GRAMMY Awards: Here Are the 2018 GRAMMY Hall of Fame Inductees |url=http://www.1077theend.com/blogs/maura-omalley/grammy-awards-here-are-2018-grammy-hall-fame-inductees |access-date=March 18, 2018 |website=1077theend.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=November 19, 2010 |title=GRAMMY Living History Moments With Gladys Knight |url=http://www.grammy.com/news/grammy-living-history-moments-with-gladys-knight |access-date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences}}</ref> She is an inductee into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] and [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] along with The Pips. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine ranked Knight among the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time (2010).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-147019/gladys-knight-47969/|title=100 Greatest Singers of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 3, 2010|access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref>  She is also a recipient of the [[National Medal of Arts]] and [[Kennedy Center Honors]].

==Early life==
Gladys Knight was born in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], on May 28, 1944, to Sarah Elizabeth (née Woods), a nurse's aide, and Merald Woodlow Knight Sr., a postal worker.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Knight |first1=Gladys |title=Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story |date=1997 |pages=21–22}}</ref> Her parents were members of both the church choir and a local choir group.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Knight |first1=Gladys |title=Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story |date=1997 |page=20 |quote=My parents were members of both the prestigious Wings over Jordan and Mount Moriah churches choirs.}}</ref> She has a sister, Brenda, and two brothers, [[Merald "Bubba" Knight|Merald "Bubba" Jr.]] and David "Billy".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-misunderstood-talent-of-gladys-knight|title=The Misunderstood Talent of Gladys Knight|first=Emily|last=Lordi|date=August 13, 2021|website=Newyorker.com}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/all-in-the-family-the-origin-story-of-gladys-knight-the-pips/|title=All in the Family: The Origins of Gladys Knight & the Pips|first=Cillea|last=Houghton|date=April 19, 2023|website=American Songwriter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aaprc.org/bubba-knights-story-through-the-eyes-of-a-pip/|title=Bubba Knight's Story: Through the Eyes of a Pip|website=Aaprc.org}}</ref>

Knight was raised [[Baptist]] and began singing gospel music at age four at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Atlanta.<!-- Spelled Mariah or Moriah? Spelled Mariah on Knight's official website --><ref name="GKbio">{{cite web |title=Biography |url=https://gladysknight.com/very-simple-page/ |website=Gladys Knight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128130603/https://gladysknight.com/very-simple-page/ |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the age of eight, she won [[Ted Mack (radio-TV host)|Ted Mack]]'s ''[[The Original Amateur Hour]]'' TV show contest singing [[Nat King Cole]]'s "[[Too Young (Sidney Lippman and Sylvia Dee song)|Too Young]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/people/2019/05/28/gladys-knights-75th-birthday-her-life-pictures/1208728001/|title=Happy birthday, Gladys Knight! See her life in pictures|website=Usatoday.com|date=May 28, 2019}}</ref> Shortly after, Knight along with her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and cousins Eleanor and [[William Guest (singer)|William Guest]] performed together during Bubba's tenth birthday party after a record player malfunctioned. The quintet later formed a group at the encouragement of Knight's mother.<ref name="auto1"/> The group settled on the name ''The Pips'', inspired by the nickname of their cousin and manager, James "Pip" Woods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2017/06/09/five-things-you-might-not-know-gladys-knight/377631001/|title=Five things you might not know about Gladys Knight|website=Knoxville News Sentinel|date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>

[[Gladys Knight & the Pips|The Pips]] performed at church, talent shows, and clubs opening for popular acts, then signed with [[Brunswick Records]] in 1957 and began releasing singles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gladys Knight's glory days started in Atlanta |url=https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/music/gladys-knight-glory-days-started-atlanta/mflYI3snBDdZBlT4SHesRO/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=June 15, 2009 }}</ref> After a few lineup changes, the group debuted their first album in 1960 when Knight was just 16.<ref name="GKbio" /> By then, she had recorded five songs and released her first hit single, “[[Every Beat of My Heart (Gladys Knight & the Pips song)|Every Beat of My Heart]].” The group's success was later halted by Knight's departure to start a family with husband and musician Jimmy Newman, resuming soon after when she returned.

Knight attended the historic [[Booker T. Washington High School (Georgia)|Booker T. Washington High School]], in Atlanta, later transferring and graduating from Archer High School.

==Success with the Pips==
{{Main|The Pips (band)}}
[[File:Gladys Knight 1974.jpg|thumb|Knight in 1974]]
Gladys Knight & the Pips joined the [[Motown Records]] roster in 1966 (with only three hits to their credit - "[[Every Beat of My Heart (Gladys Knight & the Pips song)|Every Beat of My Heart]]", "[[Giving Up]]" and "[[Letter Full of Tears]]"),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/people/gladys-knight-9542334 |title=The Pips lacked a certified hit before Gladys Knight |access-date=July 9, 2017}}</ref> and, although initially regarded as a second-string act by the label, scored several major hit singles, including "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]" (number one in 1967) (released later by [[Marvin Gaye]]), "[[The Nitty Gritty (song)|The Nitty Gritty]]" (1969), "Friendship Train" (1969), "[[If I Were Your Woman (song)|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). In their early Motown career, Gladys Knight and the Pips toured as the opening act for [[Diana Ross and the Supremes]]. Gladys Knight stated in her memoirs that Ross kicked her off the tour because the audience's reception to Knight's soulful performance overshadowed her. [[Berry Gordy]] later told Knight that she was giving his act a hard time.<ref>Knight, Gladys. ''Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story''. Hyperion, New York, NY 1997, p. 179.</ref>

The act left Motown for a better deal with [[Buddah Records]] in 1973, and achieved even greater mainstream success that year with hits such as the Grammy-winning "[[Midnight Train to Georgia]]" (number one on the pop and R&B chart), "[[I've Got to Use My Imagination]]", "The Way We Were/Try To Remember" and "[[You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me|Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me]]". In the summer of 1974, Knight and the Pips recorded the [[Claudine (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to the film ''[[Claudine (film)|Claudine]]'' with producer [[Curtis Mayfield]], which included the songs "[[On and On (Gladys Knight & the Pips song)|On and On]]", "The Makings of You" and "Make Yours a Happy Home".

The act was particularly successful in Europe, and especially the United Kingdom. Several of the Buddah singles became hits in the UK several years after their release in the US. For example, "Midnight Train to Georgia" hit the Top 5 of the UK singles chart in the summer of 1976, a full three years after its success in the U.S.

Knight and the Pips continued to have hits until the late 1970s, when they were forced to record separately due to legal issues, resulting in Knight's first solo LP 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]], then Detroit mayor [[Coleman Young]]'s executive aide. Knight and Hankerson remained married for four years, during which time they had a son, Shanga Ali. Hankerson and Knight became embroiled in a heated custody battle over 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".

[[File:Gladys Knight aboard USS Ranger (CV-61), 1981.JPEG|upright|thumb|Knight and the Pips perform aboard the aircraft carrier USS ''Ranger'' in November 1981]]
Signing with [[Columbia Records]] in 1980 and restored to its familiar quartet form, Gladys Knight & the Pips began releasing new material. The act enlisted former Motown producers [[Ashford & Simpson|Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson]] for their first two albums: ''About Love'' (1980), which included the hit "Landlord" and ''Touch'' (1981).

In 1983, Gladys Knight and the Pips scored again with the hit "[[Save the Overtime (For Me)]]". The song, under the artistic direction of Leon Sylvers III (known for collaborating on Shalamar hits), was done in a soulful boogie style. The single was released from their LP "Visions" and reached number 66 on the Hot 100, but was more successful on the R&B where it hit number one for a single week in mid 1983. The single was the first time the group hit number one on the R&B chart since 1974. The video accompanying the song became among the earliest R&B videos to incorporate 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, and she and the Pips recorded their final LP together, ''All Our Love'' (1987), for [[MCA Records]]. Its infectious lead single, "[[Love Overboard]]", was a number-one R&B hit and won another Grammy for the act as well. 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]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiamusicstore.com/artist/P4698/ |title=The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Music Store |website=Georgiamusicstore.com |access-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022053824/http://www.georgiamusicstore.com/artist/P4698/ |archive-date=October 22, 2016 }}</ref> in 1989, into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/gladys-knight-and-the-pips |title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Gladys Knight and The Pips |website=Rockhall.com |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517081558/https://rockhall.com/inductees/gladys-knight-and-the-pips/ |archive-date=May 17, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in 1996 and the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2001.

==Solo career and other musical endeavors==
While still with the Pips, Gladys Knight joined with [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Stevie Wonder]], and [[Elton John]] on the 1985 [[AIDS]] benefit single, "[[That's What Friends Are For]]", a number one hit, which won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

Knight shared a stage with [[Dionne Warwick]] and [[Patti LaBelle]] for the 1986 [[HBO]] special ''Sisters in the Name of Love,'' which she co-executive produced and received three ACE Awards for Performance in a Music Special, as well as nominations for Best Music Special and Costume Design in 1987. On March 27, 1988, Knight performed a rendition of "[[America the Beautiful]]" at [[Wrestlemania 4]] in [[Atlantic City, NJ]]. In 1989, she recorded "[[Licence to Kill (song)|Licence to Kill]]", the title track for [[Licence to Kill|James Bond film of the same name]], a Top-10 hit in the UK and Germany.

Knight released her third and most successful solo LP, ''[[Good Woman (Gladys Knight album)|Good Woman]]'', on [[MCA Records|MCA]] in 1991, which hit number one on the R&B album chart, featured the number 2 R&B hit "Men", and reached number 45 on the main ''Billboard'' album chart — her all-time-highest showing. The album also featured "[[Superwoman (Karyn White song)|Superwoman]]", written by [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] and featuring [[Dionne Warwick]] and [[Patti LaBelle]]; the track was nominated for a Grammy. Knight and LaBelle collaborated the same year on "I Don't Do Duets", for LaBelle's album ''[[Burnin' (Patti LaBelle album)|Burnin']]''.  Also in 1991, Knight performed the national anthem at Game 1 of the [[1991 World Series|World Series]].

Her fourth solo album, ''Just for You'', went [[RIAA certification|Gold]] and was nominated for the 1995 [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Album]]. The fifth solo album, ''At Last'', earned her first solo Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Album in 2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_9_96/ai_55398781 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628192546/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_9_96/ai_55398781 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2006 |title=James Newman, Gladys Knight's Son And Manager, Dies In Las Vegas At 36 |work=Jet |date=August 2, 1999 }}</ref>

Knight created and directs the [[Mormon]]-themed choir [[Saints Unified Voices]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suvchoir.org |title=Saints Unified Voices Choir |publisher=SUV Choir |access-date=July 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221214922/http://www.suvchoir.org/ |archive-date=February 21, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> SUV has released a Grammy Award-winning CD titled ''One Voice'', and occasionally performs at LDS church [[fireside (LDS Church)|firesides]].

[[File:Gladys Knight.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Knight in concert, 2006]]
In April 2004, Knight co-headlined the [[VH1]]'s benefit concert ''[[VH1 Divas|Divas Live 2004]]'' alongside [[Ashanti (entertainer)|Ashanti]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], [[Jessica Simpson]], [[Joss Stone]], [[Debbie Harry]], and [[Patti LaBelle]], in support of the Save the Music Foundation.

In 2005, a duet between Knight and [[Ray Charles]] of "You Were There" was released on Charles' duets album ''[[Genius & Friends]]''.

In the spring of 2008, Knight appeared alongside Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Diana Ross at the 'Divas with Heart' concert in aid of cardiac research, at New York's Radio City Hall. Also in 2008 Gladys, 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 the funeral service for [[Michael Jackson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.gaeatimes.com/2009/09/04/jackson-funeral-attendee-gladys-knight-moves-mourners-to-tears-mother-weary-overcome-30661/ |title=Jackson funeral attendee: Gladys Knight moves mourners to tears; mother weary, overcome|date=September 4, 2009|first=Linda|last=Deutsch |website=Entertainment.gaeatimes.com |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2011, a new, updated recording of Shirley Bassey's 1960s classic "[[I (Who Have Nothing)]]" was released on iTunes and Amazon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://the4thpip.blogspot.com/2011/09/empress-on-dance-floor-gladys-knight.html |title=Information on and review of the new single |website=The4thpip.blogspot.com |date=September 29, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref>

In 2013, Knight recorded the [[Lenny Kravitz]]-written and -produced song "You And I Ain't Nothin' No More" for the soundtrack from [[Lee Daniels]]' motion picture ''[[The Butler (2013 film)|The Butler]]''. The song was added to the movie's soundtrack of older songs with various artists so the producers could nominate it for Best Song from a Motion Picture category at the [[Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Friedman |first=Roger |title=Lenny Kravitz Writes Gladys Knight an Oscar-Buzzed Song for 'The Butler' |date=August 6, 2013 |url=http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/08/06/exclusive-lenny-kravitz-writes-gladys-knight-an-oscar-buzzed-song-for-the-butler |access-date=August 10, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Blinken Delivers Remarks at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors Dinner (52542066661).jpg|thumb|Knight receiving her [[Kennedy Center Honors|Kennedy Center Honor]] (2022)]]
''Where My Heart Belongs'' (2014) marked her 30th top-40 R&B album, including work by Gladys Knight & the Pips.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6258955/gladys-knight-interview |title=Gladys Knight 'On Top of the World' With New Album & TV Movie |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> In a 2014 interview, she expressed a hope that women would "Stand Up" and stop selling sex in the music/entertainment industry. She commented that the growing trend saddened her heart and that she had been taught to dress respectfully for her audiences ... "not take it off, put it on."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theboombox.com/gladys-knight-artists-dont-need-sex-sell-music/ |title=Gladys Knight Shares Thoughts on Singers' Selling Sex |website=Theboombox.com |date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> Knight is ranked number 18 on VH1 network's list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock.

In 2019, Knight accepted an invitation to sing the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|national anthem]] at [[Super Bowl LIII]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46931636 |title=Gladys Knight defends singing national anthem at Super Bowl |website=BBC News |date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> She faced criticism for agreeing to perform due to the alleged blacklisting of [[Colin Kaepernick]] by the [[National Football League]] after he began [[U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present)|protesting police brutality]] during pre-game anthem ceremonies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/19/686765452/gladys-knight-to-sing-the-super-bowls-national-anthem-as-a-perilous-fight-endure |title=Gladys Knight To Sing The Super Bowl's National Anthem, As A Perilous Fight Endures |first=Rodney |last=Carmichael |publisher=NPR |department=Opinion |date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> Similar criticism was expressed against the [[Super Bowl LIII halftime show|half-time show]] performers, [[Maroon 5]], [[Travis Scott]], and [[Big Boi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/18/686391728/even-with-rappers-set-to-perform-super-bowl-s-halftime-show-remains-tone-deaf |title=Even With Rappers Set To Perform, Super Bowl's Halftime Show Remains Tone-Deaf |first1=David |last1=Greene |first2=Lilly |last2=Quiroz |department=Morning Edition |publisher=NPR |date=January 18, 2019}}</ref> Knight defended her decision to sing, claiming to understand Kaepernick's reasons for protesting but criticizing him for kneeling during the national anthem.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/gladys-knight-comments-on-colin-kaepernick-and-super-bowl-i-am-here-to-give-the-anthem-back-its-voice-1203111528/ |title=Gladys Knight Comments on Colin Kaepernick and Super Bowl: 'I Am Here to Give the Anthem Back Its Voice' |first=Jem |last=Aswad |date=January 17, 2019 |quote='I understand that Mr. Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice,' she wrote. 'It is unfortunate that our National Anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the National Anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone. I am here today and on Sunday, Feb. 3 to give the Anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good — I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country's Anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII.'}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/gladys-knight-chloe-x-halle-open-super-bowl-2019|title=Gladys Knight Sings Super Bowl National Anthem|date=February 3, 2019|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, Knight was invited to play at the 100th Anniversary of [[Delaware State Fair]], located in [[Harrington, Delaware]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://delawarestatefair.com/event/an-evening-with-gladys-knight/ |title=AN EVENING WITH GLADYS KNIGHT |website=Delaware State Fiar |date=2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723190351/https://delawarestatefair.com/event/an-evening-with-gladys-knight/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2022, Knight received [[Kennedy Center Honors]], presented by U.S. President [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCOjp3VS4hg | title=President Joe Biden on Gladys Knight - 45th Kennedy Center Honors (White House Reception) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=December 14, 2022 }}</ref><ref>Andrews-Dyer, Helena (November 30, 2022), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/11/30/gladys-knight-kennedy-center-honors/ "Gladys Knight has always been a singer's singer"], ''The Washington Post''. (subscription required)</ref>  She also headlined a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner at the White House.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bet.com/article/s5zlbt/gladys-knight-perform-us-africa-leaders-summit-dinner | title=Gladys Knight Set to Headline U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner at the White House |first= Paul|last=Meara|date=December 14, 2022|website=[[BET]] }}</ref>

===Farewell tours===
In October 2009, Knight started her farewell tour of the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gigjunkie.net/blog/post/2009/10/01/The-Empress-of-Soul-Gladys-Knight.aspx |title=The Empress of Soul - Gladys Knight |website=Gigjunkie.net|date=October 1, 2009 |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-date=October 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006073126/http://www.gigjunkie.net/blog/post/2009/10/01/The-Empress-of-Soul-Gladys-Knight.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> which featured [[Tito Jackson]] as her supporting act and special appearances by [[Dionne Warwick]].

The UK Farewell Tour featured higher production values than previous "Gladys Knight, a mic and a light" appearances by Knight in the UK. A glossy program was available and the show featured pre-produced animation on large on-stage screens. The tour was promoted by an appearance on the TV program ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]'' where Knight performed "[[If I Were Your Woman (song)|If I Were Your Woman]]" and "[[Help Me Make It Through the Night]]".

In spite of her "farewell", Knight started touring the UK again a few years later, playing gigs in Scotland and England in 2015,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/music/gladys-knight-tour-review-triumph-of-a-motown-legend-10360745.html|title = Gladys Knight tour review: Triumph of a Motown legend|first=Andre |last=Paine|newspaper=[[Evening Standard]]|date = July 7, 2015}}</ref> 2016,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jambase.com/show/gladys-knight-royal-albert-hall-20160702|title=Gladys Knight - Royal Albert Hall - 20160702|website=Jambase.com|access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref> 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/824818/Gladys-Knight-review-at-the-Royal-Albert-Hall-London|title=WATCH Gladys Knight at 73 on STUNNING form at London show sing Hello better than Adele|website=Express|date=July 7, 2017}}</ref> 2019, 2022<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/gladys-knight-uk-tour-2022-tickets/ | title=Gladys Knight is heading out on a UK tour in 2022: Tickets, dates and venues revealed |first=Tom |last=Eames|website=Smooth Radio|date=February 16, 2022}}</ref> and 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2024/gladys-knight/ | title=Gladys Knight: The Farewell Tour|website=Royal Albert Hall|access-date=February 15, 2024}}</ref> A farewell tour of Australia and New Zealand was announced for March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title='Empress of Soul' Gladys Knight announces Farewell Tour of Australia and New Zealand |url=https://xpressmag.com.au/empress-of-soul-gladys-knight-announces-farewell-tour-of-australia-and-new-zealand/ |website=X-Press Magazine|date=December 13, 2023}}</ref>

==Acting==
===Film===
In 1976, Knight made her acting debut as the lead in the film ''[[Pipe Dreams (1976 film)|Pipe Dreams]]'' for which she was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1977?page=5 |title=Winners & Nominees 1977 |website=Goldenglobes.com |access-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812010010/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1977%3Fpage%3D5 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2003, she had a small role in the movie ''[[Hollywood Homicide]],'' which starred [[Harrison Ford]] and [[Josh Hartnett]]. In 2009, Knight was featured in [[Tyler Perry]]'s ''[[I Can Do Bad All by Myself (film)|I Can Do Bad All by Myself]],'' the film version of a play he had dramatized, and performed her song "The Need To Be" from the 1974 album ''I Feel a Song.''

===Television===
In 1975, Knight starred in a variety show, ''The Gladys Knight and the Pips Show'', which was canceled after four episodes. She also guest-starred on several TV series throughout the 1980s and 1990s, appearing on ''[[Benson (TV series)|Benson]],'' ''[[The Jeffersons]],'' ''[[A Different World]],'' ''[[Living Single]],'' ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]],'' and ''[[New York Undercover]].'' In 1985, she co-starred on the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[Charlie & Co.]]'', alongside comedian [[Flip Wilson]], which lasted for one season.

In April 2005, she portrayed a singer in an episode of ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]''. In April 2009, she made a special guest appearance, and performed a song, on [[Tyler Perry's House of Payne|Tyler Perry's ''House of Payne'']]. Knight has also made a number of cameo appearances, including on ''[[Las Vegas (TV series)|Las Vegas]]'' and ''[[30 Rock]].'' In 2012, she began a recurring role in the syndicated sitcom ''[[The First Family (TV series)|The First Family]]''.

In 2012, Knight competed on [[Dancing with the Stars (American season 14)|season 14]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'', partnered with [[Tristan MacManus]]. They were eliminated on April 24 after losing a "dance duel" to [[Disney Channel]] star [[Roshon Fegan]] and partner [[Chelsie Hightower]], ironically on the show's "Motown Week".<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connell |first1=Mikey |title=The 'Dancing With the Stars' Elimination Duel Claims Another |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/gladys-knight-dancing-stars-results-weight-loss-315846/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=November 15, 2021 |date=April 24, 2012}}</ref>

In 2017, she appeared as herself in the musical-drama TV series ''[[Star (TV series)|Star]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Gladys Knight To Guest Star On Lee Daniels' Fox Series 'Star' |url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/gladys-knight-guest-star-lee-daniels-fox-series-star-queen-latifah-1201848543/ |website=Deadline |access-date=November 15, 2021 |date=November 4, 2016}}</ref>

In 2018, she played Ella Grover, mother of Captain Lou Grover, in the "Lele pū nā manu like" ("Birds of a Feather...") episode of [[Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series, season 9)|''Hawaii Five-0'']], which first aired on November 16, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/gladys-knight-lou-gossett-hit-hawaii-five-o-for-thanksgiving/article_95e922ad-c19d-55fb-8859-002057138c4d.html|title=Gladys Knight, Lou Gossett hit 'Hawaii Five-O' for Thanksgiving|last=Reporter|first=Kimberly C. Roberts Entertainment|website=The Philadelphia Tribune|date=November 16, 2018 |language=en|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>

In February 2019, she was revealed to have competed as "Bee" on the [[The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 1|first season]] of '' [[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'', in which she placed third.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spellberg |first1=Claire |title='The Masked Singer' Finale Reveals T-Pain, Gladys Knight, and Donny Osmond |url=https://decider.com/2019/02/28/the-masked-singer-monster-t-pain-bee-gladys-knight-peacock-donny-osmond/ |website=Decider |access-date=February 28, 2019 |language=en |date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> She performed [[Chandelier (song)|"Chandelier"]], "[[Locked Out of Heaven]]", [[Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus song)|"Wrecking Ball"]], [[What's Love Got to Do with It (song)|"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 finished behind [[Donny Osmond]] as "Peacock" and [[T-Pain]] as "Monster".

==Business ventures==
[[File:Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's C&W Atlanta (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Knight and [[Ronald Winans|Ron Winans]]' Chicken & Waffles in Atlanta]]
Knight's son Shanga Hankerson owns a chain of [[chicken and waffles]] restaurants based in Atlanta, bearing her name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gladysandron.net/|title=Light System In Chicken & Waffles Restaurant – Official Site|access-date=January 30, 2020|archive-date=January 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119000550/https://www.gladysandron.net/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gladys Knight & [[Ron Winans]]' Chicken & Waffles opened three locations in the Atlanta area. One location was featured on the Travel Channel original series ''[[Man v. Food]].''<ref>Family Business – Gladys Knight co-owner of restaurant in Atlanta.  ''Jet'' December 11, 2000</ref> In June 2016, authorities in Georgia raided two of the restaurants and its headquarters.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |title=Georgia officials raid Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles restaurants |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/georgia-officials-raid-gladys-knights-chicken-and-waffles-restaurants |newspaper=Fox News |date=June 22, 2016 |access-date=June 22, 2016}}</ref>

In 2016, [[WSB-TV]] reported that Hankerson was at the center of an investigation involving unpaid taxes, penalties and interest. Georgia Department of Revenue Special Investigations Chief Jeff Mitchell told the station that the investigation solely involved Hankerson and not Knight.<ref name="auto"/>

==Personal life==
[[File:Gladys Knight - 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|Knight in 2016]]
In 1960, Knight married [[Atlanta]] musician and high school sweetheart James "Jimmy" Newman.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Knight |first1=Gladys |title=Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story |date=1997 |pages=121–122}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://people.com/archive/pain-and-glory-vol-48-no-23/|title=Pain and Glory |last=Dougherty|first=Steve|date=December 8, 1997|website=People}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Gentle Singer Reveals The Best-And Worst-Things That Ever Happened To Her |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/11/03/a-gentle-singer-reveals-the-best-and-worst-things-that-ever-happened-to-her/ |website=Chicago Tribune |date=August 11, 2021 }}</ref> The couple had a miscarriage and went on to have two children. Their son, James "Jimmy" Gaston Newman III, was born in 1962,<ref name="LasVegasSun.com">{{Cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/jul/13/record-exec-entertainment-manager-newman-dies/|title=Record exec, entertainment manager Newman dies|date=July 13, 1999|work=LasVegasSun.com|access-date=December 16, 2017|language=en}}</ref> and their daughter, Kenya Maria Newman, was born in 1963. In the early 1960s, Knight's family and the Pips moved to [[Detroit]]. The family lived in [[Sherwood Forest, Detroit|Sherwood Forest]], an upscale neighborhood on Detroit's West Side. Knight retired from the road to raise their children while the Pips toured on their own, later returning with Newman as the group's musical director. Newman later became addicted to drugs and left the family when Knight was 20. They remained married for over 12 years and were separated for 7 years until their divorce in 1973.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|date=January 25, 1973|title=Gladys Knight Receives Divorce From Husband|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qbEDAAAAMBAJ&q=James+Newman+Gladys+Knight&pg=PA56|journal=Jet |volume= 43| issue =  18|pages=56}}</ref> Newman died a few years later.<ref name="Gladys Knight">{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/gladys-knight-9542334|title=Gladys Knight |website=Biography.com|language=en-us|access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref>

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 relocated to Las Vegas. Their marriage ended in 1979 with a prolonged custody battle over their son.<ref name="Gladys Knight" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=iEIDAAAAMBAJ&q=gladys+knight&pg=PA56|title=Gladys Knight agrees to return son to Detroit so father can visit him|magazine=Jet|date=February 22, 1979|via=Google Books}}</ref> Knight spent over a million dollars searching for her son after he was kidnapped.<ref name="Lacher">{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/24/entertainment/la-ca-conversation-20110724/2|title=The Sunday Conversation: Gladys Knight|last=Lacher|first=Irene|date=July 24, 2011|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 16, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928023959/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/24/entertainment/la-ca-conversation-20110724/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1995, Knight married motivational speaker [[Les Brown (speaker)|Les Brown]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ijgDAAAAMBAJ&q=les+brown+gladys+knight+married&pg=PA32 |title=Jet – Google Books |website=Books.google.com |date=October 9, 1995 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> divorcing in 1997.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://people.com/archive/pain-and-glory-vol-48-no-23/|title=Pain and Glory|volume=48|number=23|magazine=People|access-date=November 17, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Knight was raised a [[Baptist]], later was a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], and was baptized in 1997 into [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], inspired by her daughter and son who had left Catholicism to join.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/1997-10-05/entertainment/25540047_1_midnight-train-gladys-knight-divorce-papers/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915122549/http://articles.philly.com/1997-10-05/entertainment/25540047_1_midnight-train-gladys-knight-divorce-papers/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |title=Soul Survivor In Her New Memoir, Gladys Knight Looks Back At Nearly Five Decades In Show Business. Pips And All. By All Indications, The Singer's Story Is Far From Over. - philly-archives |website=Articles.philly.com |date=October 5, 1997 |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Albright|first=Mark|date=January 21, 2013|title=The Gladys Knight Conversion Story {{!}} Meridian Magazine|url=https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-12092/|access-date=July 4, 2021|website=Meridian Magazine {{!}} Latter-day Saint News and Views}}</ref> She had occasionally teased [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|LDS president]] [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], saying they needed to inject some "pep" into their music.<ref>2006 September, Desert Saints Magazine</ref> He agreed, which resulted in the founding of the [[Saints Unified Voices]] gospel choir directed by Knight. In 2018, Knight led the Be One Choir at the "Be One" event in [[Salt Lake City, Utah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2018/06/02/be-one-celebration-thrills-the-audience-with-stories-of-trailblazing-black-mormons-and-songs-of-rejoicing-and-reflection-from-gladys-knight-multiracial-choirs-and-others/|title='Be One' celebration thrills the audience with stories of trailblazing black Mormons and songs of rejoicing and reflection from Gladys Knight, multiracial choirs and others|website=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620011827/https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2018/06/02/be-one-celebration-thrills-the-audience-with-stories-of-trailblazing-black-mormons-and-songs-of-rejoicing-and-reflection-from-gladys-knight-multiracial-choirs-and-others/ |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Knight has an honorary doctorate from [[Shaw University]] in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gladys Knight, Alessia Cara, Clark Atlanta choir to perform at All-Star game |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/gladys-knight-alessia-cara-clark-atlanta-choir-to-perform-at-all-star-game/NZK7J6VNDVAM7CWUX3ATZ5656U/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=February 23, 2021 }}</ref>

Knight's son Jimmy Newman III managed her career through his Newman Management Inc. until his death from heart failure on July 10, 1999, at age 36.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/1999/scene/people-news/james-newman-1117883118/|title=James Newman|author=|date=August 4, 1999 |website=Variety.com|access-date=December 16, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Newman was survived by his wife, Michelene; daughters Nastasia and Gabrielle; and sons Rishawn, Stefan, and Sterling. Following his death, her daughter Kenya Jackson took over management.<ref name="LasVegasSun.com"/>

Knight married William McDowell in 2001.<ref name=brn>{{cite news|url=http://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20171025/gladys-knight-brings-friends-to-asheville |title=Gladys Knight brings friends to Asheville |first=Jason |last=Gilmer |website=BlueRidgeNow |date=October 25, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> They have seventeen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren between them.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oprah.com/app/master-class.html |title=Oprah's Master Class |access-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref> Knight and McDowell reside in [[Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina|Fairview, North Carolina]], near where they own a community center, the former Reynolds High School in Canton attended by McDowell.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2017/03/03/gladys-knight-and-husband-move-forward-canton-center/98495212/ |title=Gladys Knight and husband move forward with Canton center |work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |first=Beth |last=Walton |date=March 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2021/02/27/great-smoky-mountains-address-omission-black-people-park-history/4507004001/ |title=Great Smokies starts to unearth stories of Black and enslaved people in park's history |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |first=Karen |last=Chávez  |date=February 27, 2021}}</ref>

Linebacker [[Demetrius Knight]] comes from the same Knight family; he and Gladys are "distant cousins."<ref>{{Cite web |author=Michael Marot|agency=Associated Press |date=2025-04-23 |title=Shedeur Sanders leads a large contingent of legacy players in this NFL draft class |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/23/nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-legacy-players/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017, Knight helped raise $400,000 for the Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County, in Stamford, Connecticut. The event was held at the Palace Theatre and was co-hosted by [[Carol Anne Riddell]] and [[Alan Kalter]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Grammy-winner-s-concert-raises-400k-for-11120813.php|title=Grammy winner's concert raises $400k for Stamford nonprofit|work=Stamford Advocate|date=May 4, 2017 |first=Nelson |last=Oliveira}}</ref>

Knight had a gambling addiction that lasted more than a decade. In the late 1980s, after losing $60,000 in one night at the [[Baccarat (card game)|baccarat]] table, she joined [[Gamblers Anonymous]], which helped her quit the habit.<ref name="Lacher"/>

==Legacy==
In 1996, Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. One year before, Knight had received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. In 2007, Knight received the [[Society of Singers]] ELLA Award at which time she was declared the "Empress of Soul". She is listed on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of the Greatest Singers of All Time.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hudak |first=Joseph |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/gladys-knight-20101202 |title=Gladys Knight – 100 Greatest Singers |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref>  In 2021, Knight received the [[National Medal of Arts]].  And, in 2022, Knight received a [[Kennedy Center Honor]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/u2-and-gladys-knight-to-receive-kennedy-center-honors/ | title=U2 and Gladys Knight to Receive Kennedy Center Honors | website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] | date=July 21, 2022 }}</ref> In 2023, Knight received the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]].

==Discography==
{{Main|Gladys Knight discography}}
{{see also|The Pips discography}}

;Studio albums
* ''[[Miss Gladys Knight]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Gladys Knight (album)|Gladys Knight]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Good Woman (Gladys Knight album)|Good Woman]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Just for You (Gladys Knight album)|Just for You]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Many Different Roads]]'' (1998)
* ''[[At Last (Gladys Knight album)|At Last]]'' (2000)
* ''[[One Voice (Gladys Knight album)|One Voice]]'' <small>(with [[Saints Unified Voices]])</small> (2005)
* ''[[Before Me (album)|Before Me]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Another Journey]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Where My Heart Belongs]]'' (2014)

==Published works==
* Knight, Gladys. ''At Home With Gladys Knight'', McGraw-Hill, 2001 – {{ISBN|1-58040-075-2}}
* Knight, Gladys. ''Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story'', Hyperion Press, 1998 – {{ISBN|0-7868-8371-5}}

==Filmography==

===Films===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1976
| ''[[Pipe Dreams (1976 film)|Pipe Dreams]]''
| Maria Wilson
| [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress]] nominee
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1987
| ''Desperado''
| Mona Lisa
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1993
| ''[[Twenty Bucks]]''
| Mrs. McCormic
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
| ''[[Hollywood Homicide]]''
| Olivia Robidoux
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2006
| ''[[Unbeatable Harold]]''
| Phyllis
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2006
| ''Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen''
| Candie (voice)
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2009
| ''[[I Can Do Bad All by Myself (film)|I Can Do Bad All by Myself]]''
| Wilma
| Performed "The Need To Be" from the 1974 album ''I Feel a Song''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2014
| ''Seasons of Love''
| Ms. Angie
| Holiday movie
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2016
| ''[[Almost Christmas (film)|Almost Christmas]]''
| Dorothy, Shelter Director
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2021
| ''[[Coming 2 America]]''
| Herself
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2022
| ''I'm Glad It's Christmas''
| Cora Lawson, Businesswoman
| Holiday movie
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1981
| ''[[The Muppet Show]]''
| Herself
| Season 5, episode 16
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1983
| ''[[The Jeffersons]]''
| Herself
| "The Good Life" (season 9: episode 20)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1985–1986
| ''[[Charlie & Co.]]''
| Diana Richmond
| 18 episodes
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1987
| ''[[CBS Schoolbreak Special]]''
| Dr. Donna Robinson
| "An Enemy Among Us" (season 4, episode 7)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1988
| ''[[A Different World]]''
| Herself
| "Three Girls Three" (season 2, episode 5)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1994
| ''[[New York Undercover]]''
| Natalie
| 2 episodes
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1997
| ''[[Living Single]]''
| Odelle Jones
| 2 episodes
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1999
| ''[[Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child]]''
| Chocolate
| "The Bremen Town Musicians" (season 3, episode 3)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1996–2001
| ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]''
| Janice King
| 11 episodes
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
| ''[[American Juniors]]''
| Herself / Judge
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2005
| ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]''
| Etta
| "[[JAG season 10|Unknown Soldier]]" (season 10, episode 20)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2008
| ''[[30 Rock]]''
| Herself
| "210" (season 2, episode 10)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2009
| ''[[Tyler Perry's House of Payne|House of Payne]]''
| Herself
| "The Talent Show" (season 5, episode 20)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2012–2013
| ''[[The First Family (TV series)|The First Family]]''
| Grandma Carolyn
| 9 episodes
|-
|2015
|''[[Hot in Cleveland]]''
|Miss Shonda
|1 episode
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2017
| ''[[Star (TV series)|Star]]''
| Herself
| 2 episodes
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2018
| ''[[Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series, season 9)|''Hawaii Five-0'']]''
| Ella Grover
| "Lele pū nā manu like" ("Birds of a Feather...")<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/gladys-knight-lou-gossett-hit-hawaii-five-o-for-thanksgiving/article_95e922ad-c19d-55fb-8859-002057138c4d.html|title=Gladys Knight, Lou Gossett hit 'Hawaii Five-O' for Thanksgiving|last=Reporter|first=Kimberly C. Roberts Entertainment|website=The Philadelphia Tribune|date=November 16, 2018 |language=en|access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2019
| ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]''
| Bee/Herself
| Third place
|}

== Awards, honors, and achievements ==
{{for|awards won by Knight with the Pips |Gladys Knight & the Pips|}}

===Grammy Awards===
<!--PLEASE DO NOT EDIT: SEE EDIT SUMMARY - SHE DID NOT WIN TEN NOTWITHSTANDING MASKED SINGER-->Knight has won seven [[Grammys]] with twenty-two nominations altogether.<ref name=Grammy>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/gladys-knight/16951|title=Gladys Knight |website=grammy.com|date=August 6, 2025 }}</ref>
{{awards table}}
|-
| [[1968 Grammy Awards|1968]]
| "[[I Heard It Through The Grapevine]]" <small>(award for Knight, performance by [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1970 Grammy Awards|1970]]
| "[[Friendship Train]]" <small>([[Gladys Knight & the Pips]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1972 Grammy Awards|1972]]
| "[[If I Were Your Woman (song)|If I Were Your Woman]]" <small>([[Gladys Knight & the Pips]])</small>
| Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Group
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1973 Grammy Awards|1973]]
| "[[Help Me Make It Through the Night]]" <small>([[Gladys Knight & the Pips]])</small>
| Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|[[1974 Grammy Awards|1974]]
| "[[Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)]]" <small>(Gladys Knight & the Pips)</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus]]
| {{WON}}
|-
| "[[Midnight Train To Georgia]]" <small>(Gladys Knight & the Pips)</small>
| Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group
| {{WON}}
|-
| [[1975 Grammy Awards|1975]]
| "[[I Feel a Song (In My Heart)|I Feel A Song (In My Heart)]]" <small>(Gladys Knight & the Pips)</small>
| Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1976 Grammy Awards|1976]]
| "[[The Way We Were (song)|The Way We Were]]"/"[[Try to Remember]]" <small>(Gladys Knight & the Pips)</small>
| Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Group
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1978 Grammy Awards|1978]]
| "Baby Don't Change Your Mind" <small>(Gladys Knight & the Pips)</small>
| Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1981 Grammy Awards|1981]]
| ''About Love'' <small>(Gladys Knight & the Pips)</small>
| Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|[[1986 Grammy Awards|1986]]
|rowspan="2"| "[[That's What Friends Are For]]" <small>([[Dionne Warwick]], [[Elton John]], Gladys Knight & [[Stevie Wonder]])</small>
| Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1988 Grammy Awards|1988]]
| "[[Love Overboard]]" <small>(Gladys Knight And the Pips)</small>
|rowspan="2"| Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2|[[1991 Grammy Awards|1991]]
| "[[Superwoman (Karyn White song)|Superwoman]]" <small>(Gladys Knight, [[Patti LaBelle]] & Dionne Warwick)</small>
| {{nom}}
|-
| ''Good Woman''
| Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|[[1994 Grammy Awards|1994]]
| ''Just for You''
| [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Album|Best R&B Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| "I Don't Want to Know"
| Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
| {{nom}}
|- 
| [[1996 Grammy Awards|1996]]
| "[[Missing You (Brandy, Gladys Knight, Tamia, and Chaka Khan song)|Missing You]]" <small>([[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]], [[Tamia]], Gladys Knight & [[Chaka Khan]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals|Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[1999 Grammy Awards|1999]]
| ''Many Different Roads''
| [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album|Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album]]
| {{nom}}
|- 
| [[2001 Grammy Awards|2001]]
| ''At Last''
| [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance|Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[2004 Grammy Awards|2004]]
| "[[Heaven Help Us All]]" <small>(Gladys Knight & [[Ray Charles]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance|Best Gospel Performance]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[2005 Grammy Awards|2005]]
| ''One Voice'' <small>(Gladys Knight & [[Saints Unified Voices]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album|Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album]]
| {{won}}
{{end}}

===Other awards and honors===
* 1992: [[Essence (magazine)|''Essence'' Award]] for Career Achievement<ref>{{YouTube|Zgk6bb91Yno|Oprah Winfrey & Denzel Washington present Essence Award to Gladys Knight}}</ref>
* 1995: [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockandrollroadmap.com/places/miscellaneous/los-angeles-area/hollywood-walk-of-fame |title=Hollywood Walk of Fame – Our list of Rock stars on the Walk |website=Rockandrollroadmap.com |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref>
* 1996: [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/gladys-knight-and-pips | title=Gladys Knight and the Pips |website=Rockhall.com}}</ref>
* 1997: [[Xernona Clayton|Trumpet Awards Foundation]] Pinnacle Award<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n11_v91/ai_19114152 |title=The 5th Annual Trumpet Awards salutes outstanding black achievers during gala ceremony in Atlanta |work=Jet |date=February 3, 1997 |access-date=March 22, 2012}}</ref>
* 2005: [[BET]] Lifetime Achievement Award<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2005/acceptance/gladys-knight-acceptance-speech-beta-2005.html |title=Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Gladys Knight &#124; BET Awards |website=Bet.com |date=June 25, 2005 |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007065629/http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2005/acceptance/gladys-knight-acceptance-speech-beta-2005.html |archive-date=October 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 2007: [[NAACP]] Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naacpimageawards.net/PDFs/38th_NAACP_Image_Awards_Winners_Release.pdf |title=The 38th NAACP Image Awards |website=Naacpimageawards.net |access-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107042451/http://www.naacpimageawards.net/PDFs/38th_NAACP_Image_Awards_Winners_Release.pdf |archive-date=January 7, 2010 }}</ref>
* 2007: [[Society of Singers]] Ella Award, also declared the "Empress of Soul"<ref name="knight1"/><ref name="knight2a">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur36707.cfm |title=The ELLA Awards tribute to Gladys Knight 'Legends ruled the red carpet.'|first=Eugenia |last=Wright|date=September 12, 2007 |website=Eurweb.com |access-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080529001959/http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur36707.cfm |archive-date=May 29, 2008 }}</ref>
* 2008: [[BET]] Inaugural Best Living Legend Award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bet.com/Specials/tbh08/tbh-news/tbh-news-bethonorsrecap.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished&Referrer=%7B8952391D-B74E-4B69-87D9-C7F68BFF0A06%7D |title=1st Annual The BET Honors |website=Bet.com |access-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303171910/http://www.bet.com/Specials/tbh08/tbh-news/tbh-news-bethonorsrecap.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished&Referrer=%7B8952391D-B74E-4B69-87D9-C7F68BFF0A06%7D |archive-date=March 3, 2011 }}</ref>
* 2008: [[National Black Arts Festival]] Honoree at Legends Celebration<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011606009 |title=Westmark, Jan. ''Celebrity News Service'' |website=Allheadlinenews.com |access-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223042436/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011606009 |archive-date=December 23, 2008 }}</ref>
* 2011: [[Soul Train Music Awards]] Lifetime Achievement Award<ref>{{Cite web|title=2011 Soul Train Awards (2011) - IMDb|website=[[IMDb]] |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2190159/trivia|access-date=May 28, 2021}}</ref>
* 2017: [[National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/rhythm-blues-hall-of-fame-2017-7825844/ | title=The Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Inducts James Brown, Gladys Knight & More at 2017 Ceremony | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Gary|last=Graff|date=June 12, 2017 }}</ref>
* 2019: Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=Achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/}}</ref>
* 2021: [[National Medal of Arts]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/medals/gladys-knight | title=Gladys Knight|website=Arts.gov}}</ref>
* 2022: 45th Annual [[Kennedy Center Honors]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/3568667-u2-george-clooney-gladys-knight-lead-list-of-kennedy-center-honorees/ | title=U2, George Clooney, Gladys Knight lead list of Kennedy Center Honorees |first=Judy|last=Kurtz|website=The Hill| date=July 21, 2022 }}</ref>

===Honorary degrees===
* Honorary Doctorate in Performing Arts, [[Shaw University]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ramentertainment.net/Artists/Details/603 |title=Gladys Knight |publisher=RAM Entertainment |date=March 30, 1989 |access-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021210111/http://ramentertainment.net/Artists/Details/603 |archive-date=October 21, 2014 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.gladysknight.com/}}
* {{IMDb name|460912}}
* {{IBDB name}}

{{Gladys Knight}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Gladys Knight
|list =
{{Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2020s}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist}}
{{National Medal of Arts recipients 2010s & 2020s}}
{{1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Gladys Knight & the Pips}}
{{Black people and the Latter Day Saint movement}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Gladys}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:African-American Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:African-American actresses]]
[[Category:American contraltos]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American former Protestants]]
[[Category:American soul singers]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American ballad musicians]]
[[Category:Converts to Mormonism]]
[[Category:Converts to Mormonism from Roman Catholicism]]
[[Category:Former Baptists]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Gladys Knight & the Pips members]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Kennedy Center honorees]]
[[Category:Knight family (show business)|Gladys]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Singers from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:Vee-Jay Records artists]]
[[Category:Writers from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Booker T. Washington High School (Georgia) alumni]]