Gladys Knight has told how she is “easing into fewer performances” as she appears confused onstage.
The Midnight Train to Georgia singer, 82, had fans worried during a recent show, as she was seen staring to the side during a song, and letting the backup singers perform instead.
A Billboard review said, “She barely got through this show, and only by leaning heavily on her backup singers. Artists need to know when it’s time to bow out gracefully.”
After her latest performance, she released a statement. “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. “I’ll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era.”
She continued, “I’d like to take a moment, in advance, to thank all my fans over this last three quarters of a century for making a little girl’s dream come true and supporting her every step of the way. I am immensely grateful to all of you and send my eternal love back to you. I hope to see your smiling faces out and about and on the road. God bless all of you and hope to see you soon.”
Knight’s husband, William McDowell, is also her manager. He told TMZ that she wants to continue performing. However, while people working on the tour believe the star is “showing symptoms of dementia,” McDowell claims she has not yet been evaluated by a doctor. He added that if she has a “rough night” at her next show on September 5, he will cancel her upcoming performances.
Last year, Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson, claimed his mum was being “emotionally and financially abused” and being forced to perform by McDowell. Knight denied the claims.
