Gladys Knight’s Fans Want a Health Update — Here's What We Know
The soulful singer's son made shocking claims about her health and marriage in August 2025.
Updated Aug. 15 2025, 12:19 p.m. ET
The incomparable Gladys Knight has basically been famous since she was seven years old, when she won Ted Mack's The Original Amateur Hour contest on TV, per Smooth Radio. Since that time, her star has been on the rise, with a career that spans decades, and includes iconic hits with The Pips, including “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”
But The Masked Singer alum's health recently took center stage. Due to comments Gladys and members of her inner circle made, fans began to fear for her health as well. So what’s the update on the star’s health? Here’s what we know.
Gladys Knight's son gave a shocking update on her health.
In August 2025, Gladys's son, Shanga Hankerson, accused the singer's husband, William McDowell, of mentally and financially abusing her. He claimed during an interview with The Shade Room that McDowell was forcing his mother to continue touring despite her allegedly having cognitive health issues.
"I don't want my mom out on tour on a tour bus, wondering where she's at," Hankerson explained to the outlet. "I don't want that for her. That's my mom, I truly love her and don't care about her ever working a second longer while she's alive. The direction that she's going in is pushing her to her departure, and I don't want to see that."
Hankerson, who was born during Gladys's marriage to music producer and Aaliyah's uncle Barry Hankerson, also said McDowell was allegedly "manipulating people" into believing she was healthy, though he said he knew she was "zoned out" during rehearsals.
"I'm extremely concerned about how she is being handled right now," her son emphasized.
Amid Shanga's claims, Gladys's camp released a statement to People denying that there was anything wrong with her health. She shared that she was enjoying her time on tour with fellow R&B singers Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and Stephanie Mills, which began in May 2025.
"I'm sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented," the "Midnight Train to Georgia" singer wrote. "I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?” she said. “I'm healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I'm excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon.”
Gladys Knight’s health issues seemed to get lost in translation in 2018.
Speaking to Detroit’s WDIV for a live interview in 2018, Gladys told a story of finding out she was in the same hotel as her friend Aretha Franklin, who had the powerhouse voice to rival her own. At that time, the “Respect” crooner was battling pancreatic cancer. Per Essence, Gladys told WDIV about a conversation she had with Aretha, “we shared the fact that we had the same disease.”
Fans collectively freaked out about Gladys also having pancreatic cancer. But soon, via her rep, she clarified that she had suffered from stage 1 breast cancer. “Due to early detection, I am cancer-free and grateful for that,” the statement to Us Weekly explained. Since that time, it seems that the 78-year-old is in great shape, and in fact, is looking toward the future.
Gladys had lost a lot of weight prior to her cancer scare.
Backing up a hot minute, it’s worth noting that after Gladys appeared on Dancing With the Stars in 2012, she talked openly about having lost quite a bit of weight due to the rigorous practice and performance schedule.
"[Partner Tristan MacManus] helped [by] wearing me out," Gladys told People about her 60-pound weight loss at the time. Meanwhile, it seemed that at 67 years of age, she wasn’t focused on growing older, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “I don’t think about it. I don’t think in terms of age, per se. We sort of categorize ourselves. It’s what we feel in our hearts and our spirits and our minds that makes the difference.”
Fast forward to 2022, and the songstress wowed in a youthful red gown as she was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors late in the year, per the Daily Mail. And according to Gladys, she isn’t done climbing the ladder of success in entertainment, despite being close to 80.
Gladys says she’s “just getting started.”
The so-called “Empress of Soul” is partnering with Cineflix Productions to develop a scripted series about her fascinating life, per Deadline. As she told the outlet, “At the age of 78, most people in my industry have retired, but I’m just getting started.”
We can’t wait to see what the team comes up with, a project which Gladys called her “legacy.” No details have been released yet as to when we can expect to see the series debut.