Nationwide — Gladys Knight continues to perform onstage despite saying she plans to cut back on touring, a decision that has intensified a public dispute between her son, Shanga Hankerson, and her husband and manager, William McDowell. Hankerson has accused McDowell of pushing the 82-year-old singer to keep working, while McDowell has said Knight still wants to perform and has rejected claims that she has dementia.
The latest disagreement followed Knight’s Sept. 5 concert at Hard Rock Live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before the show, McDowell said he planned to watch his wife’s performance and would cancel her remaining concerts if she struggled. Afterward, concertgoer Paul Gregory Richard said that Knight appeared to have difficulty during the show and that her performance ended after about an hour. He also said she seemed to struggle with some lyrics. Richard’s account has not been independently verified and does not establish anything about Knight’s health. Video from another attendee showed Knight performing her classic song “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Knight continued performing after the Tulsa concert. She appeared at Hatfield Hall in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Sept. 9, while additional shows were scheduled in Cincinnati and Shipshewana, Indiana. More dates were also listed for October. Hankerson pointed to those performances as evidence that he does not believe McDowell planned to reduce his mother’s schedule. “He never intended to stop any tour dates, as you can see for yourself,” Hankerson said.
Hankerson went further when discussing what he believes could happen if the touring continues. “My belief and fear is that he intends to literally try to work her until she passes away. And you can quote me on that,” he told The Detroit News. The statement reflects Hankerson’s allegation about McDowell’s intentions, not an established fact. McDowell has said Knight wants to continue singing and has denied that she has been diagnosed with dementia. He has also discussed having her undergo a medical evaluation and suggested that a performance venue near their North Carolina home could give her a way to sing without the strain of regular travel.
The dispute comes after Knight announced on Aug. 27 that she planned to slow down her 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,” she said. Knight did not announce that she was retiring. Instead, her statement described a move toward fewer performances as she enters another stage of her career. Her continued appearances have since become a central point in the disagreement between her son and husband.
Hankerson has made similar accusations against McDowell for more than a year. He previously alleged that his stepfather was mentally and financially abusing Knight and raised concerns about her memory and other possible signs of cognitive decline. He said he filed a complaint with authorities in North Carolina. Knight has rejected those claims and previously said, “I’m sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented.” She also assured fans that she was “healthy and happy,” while her representatives called Hankerson’s allegations unfounded. McDowell has likewise disputed claims about Knight’s health, leaving the family divided publicly over her well-being, workload, and future as a performer.