The 82-year-old soul legend says the ‘midnight train’ has a few stops left as a family dispute over her health and workload intensifies.
ByBernadette Giacomazzo
September 14, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Gladys Knight says she will finish her remaining 2026 performances before pursuing new ventures next year, calling the dates “just a few more stops” for the midnight train.
- Her son Shanga Hankerson claims husband and manager William McDowell plans to work the 82-year-old singer “until she passes away,” while McDowell denies forcing her to tour or that she has dementia.
- Health concerns intensified after an attendee claimed Knight ended a Tulsa concert early, though she continued touring and has called reports about her condition “misrepresented.”
Gladys Knight plans to keep performing through the end of 2026, even as her son continues to sound alarms about her health and claims her husband is pushing the 82-year-old singer to remain on the road.
A statement posted to Knight’s Instagram account two days after Shanga Hankerson told The Detroit News that he fears his mother will be worked “until she passes away” said Knight will finish her remaining scheduled performances this year. Knight’s team, including her husband and manager, William McDowell, manages her social media.
“After heartfelt discussions with my team, I recognize that no matter how much I love lifting spirits in song, it’s time for the midnight train to make just a few more stops,” the statement read. “I’m finishing the year strong with my remaining performances.”
The message also looked beyond touring. “Looking forward to new ventures next year,” the statement continued. “Again, I am so very grateful for all the love and support over the years.”
The announcement adds another wrinkle to a growing dispute over how much Gladys Knight should be performing. Last month, Knight said she was “easing into fewer performances” and planned to spend more time with her grandchildren and working on other projects with McDowell.
Hankerson has questioned whether McDowell ever intended to significantly reduce his mother’s workload.
“He never intended to stop any tour dates, as you can see for yourself,” Hankerson told The Detroit News. “My belief and fear is that he intends to literally try to work her until she passes away.”
Those comments followed Knight’s Sept. 5 concert in Tulsa, which McDowell had previously identified as a potential test for whether touring should continue. He told TMZ that if Knight had a “rough night,” he would “pull the plug” on subsequent dates.
Concertgoer Paul Gregory Richard later claimed the Tulsa performance ended early after Knight struggled during her set. “It was hard to watch and we all cheered her on and loved on her just the same,” he wrote on Facebook, adding that “she just could not continue.” His account has not been independently verified, and footage posted by another attendee showed Knight performing “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Knight subsequently continued performing, including a stop in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Questions surrounding her health have followed the singer for more than a year. Hankerson has accused McDowell of mentally and financially abusing his mother and previously said he contacted North Carolina authorities over her care. He has also alleged that Knight has experienced memory loss and periods of confusion.
McDowell has denied forcing Knight to perform and has said she has not been diagnosed with dementia. He has, however, acknowledged that his wife has good and bad days.
Knight previously called reports about her health “misrepresented” and declared herself “healthy and happy.”
