Instead of singing her heart out on the Grand Ole Opry stage, Gladys Knight, the legendary “Empress of Soul,” is caught up in an ugly family feud. This ongoing war has spotlighted her wellbeing. Visibility issues aside, her son, Shanga Hankerson, is concerned for her safety at all. He’s filed an Official Complaint with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. He alleges that Knight’s spouse, William McDowell, has been committing elder abuse.
In reaction to these rumors, Knight released a video statement declaring herself alive and well. I’m healthy and happy and traveling these last few months to see friends and family. Perhaps to calm any concerned fans, Knight added, “I want you all to know that I’m doing really good. It’s kind of unbelievable, but I’ve been performing on this planet for three quarters of a century!
Shanga Hankerson’s worries for his mother’s health go beyond her plans to travel the continent on tour. In private, he lobbied against her coming back to the stage. In a recent interview with The Shade Room, he specifically stated that he does not want her to ever tour again. He said, “Not having any idea of where, who she is, not knowing where William is, that’s a huge thing for her. And that’s my biggest issue.”
Knight’s publicist, Laura Herlovich, responded to Hankerson’s accusations, stating that the singer and her team are “greatly saddened” by his “unfounded allegations.” Shanga Hankerson has had “no meaningful relationship” with Gladys Knight, Herlovich added.
The iconic diva hasn’t taken the stage since June 1st. Look forward to a helluva freaky-fabulous return as she relaunches her tour in September with “The Queens Tour”! Knight can hardly contain her excitement about staging a comeback. She continued, “I’m so looking forward to hitting the highways again with my sisters and getting busy on stage with ‘The Queens Tour’ — can’t wait to see you all!”
Knight’s storied career as an artist started with the Motown R&B ensemble The Pips in 1961. With a legacy spanning several decades, she has earned seven Grammy Awards and still enchants audiences around the globe. It’s all in a day for her as she recently showcased that at our 4 Queens concert. 19, Transform the Economy May 11, 2025, Kia Forum, Los Angeles
As the story continues to develop, public health experts are calling for an immediate and complete investigation into the assertions public health expert Dr. Tre Lovell commented on the need for scrutiny from health authorities: “North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, they need to step in, conduct their own investigation with their own health care experts, and determine whether or not somebody is suffering from some type of mental cognitive disability or condition.”
