Gladys Knight to step back from performing after health concerns surface

Grammy-winning soul singer Gladys Knight announced Thursday that she plans to scale back her touring schedule, a decision that followed weeks of viral video clips of the 82-year-old at recent shows.

“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,” Ms. Knight wrote in a statement posted to her social media accounts.

The self-described “Empress of Soul” said she intends to spend more time on unspecified projects with her husband of 25 years, William McDowell, and visiting their grandchildren as she enters what she called a “new era.” She thanked fans for supporting her “every step of the way” over her decades-long career, though her statement made no mention of her health.

The announcement followed growing concern among fans after clips circulated online of Knight’s recent performances. Fans and tour sources described her as appearing disoriented during her July 25 performance at the Hollywood Bowl, where she turned her back to the audience mid-song during her signature hit “Midnight Train to Georgia” and began walking offstage; when a backup singer reached for her arm to guide her back, Ms. Knight pulled away. TMZ reported that people connected to her tour had warned beforehand that she was not fit to perform, and one source told the outlet that an earlier April tour stop in Las Vegas with Smokey Robinson was even more concerning, alleging — without confirmation from a medical professional — that Ms. Knight was showing symptoms of dementia.

Mr. McDowell, who also manages his wife’s career, addressed the concerns directly with TMZ, saying Ms. Knight has not been diagnosed with dementia but that the couple plans to see a doctor for an evaluation.

“No one is ever gonna make me say, ’My wife is well,’ but all she wants to do is sing,” he said, adding that Knight has “good days and bad.” He told the outlet Ms. Knight has tour dates booked through mid-November but that he would consider ending the run early depending on how she fares at upcoming shows.

This is not the first time Ms. Knight’s family has publicly clashed over her health and workload. Last year, her son from a previous marriage, Shanga Hankerson, accused Mr. McDowell of mental and financial abuse and said he had filed a complaint with authorities in North Carolina, arguing his mother’s touring schedule was being pushed by Mr. McDowell against her interests. Ms. Knight’s publicist at the time called the allegations “unfounded,” and Knight herself said she was “healthy and happy” and eager to return to the road.

Ms. Knight, a seven-time Grammy winner, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Pips in 1996. Her statement Thursday did not indicate she is retiring outright, noting she hopes “to see your smiling faces out and about and on the road” in the future. Her next scheduled appearance is Sept. 4 at the Riverfront Jazz Festival in Dallas, followed by a Sept. 5 show in Oklahoma.