I am greatly relieved to say Gladys Knight is stepping back from her touring schedule.
Gladys has just posted her announcement to Instagram, and it couldn’t have come soon enough.
Fans have been worried about Gladys for months, if not longer. On stage — despite her voice being completely intact — Gladys has seemed disoriented at times. Her three back up singers have been guiding her through her incredible repertoire of hits like “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “Neither One of Us.”
It’s very hard for beloved performers to give up the spotlight and adulation. When I saw Gladys perform last December at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut it was clear she was having challenges on stage. But as she has all year since then, Gladys looked very happy entertaining audiences as she’s done for 75 of her 81 years. She was always dressed beautifully and, again, her voice is unmatched.
As I wrote in December, I wondered why she was still on a grueling tour. This is a time when she should be enjoying her family — from whom she’s been estranged — and accepting kudos for being a trailblazing superstar. I saw her again at the end of January 2026 at Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy dinner — sitting with Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, and Stevie Wonder — and she was in her element.
But there have been worries. A year ago, Gladys’ son, who was concerned about her, claimed that Gladys was being forced to tour by husband William McDowell. I immediately called the couple, Gladys got on the phone and assured me she was alright. In her mind, she was absolutely fine and happy.
So now this great star and absolutely lovely person is going to cut back. I think the fans who were posting on social media after every show will be relieved. Gladys Knight has been entertaining us since she was 5 years old. She deserves a break, and a little rest. That doesn’t mean she has to stop singing. But it’s time to come home from the tour bus.
