Gladys Knight, a seven-time Grammy winner, is one of the greatest with hits across Pop, Gospel, R&B, and Adult Contemporary. In her first effort since 2013, Knight released a new inspiration Gospel album, "Where My Heart Belongs," which recently won an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Gospel Album."
Knight's talent doesn't end at music, though. Last month, Gladys returned to the small screen in the Lifetime original movie Seasons of Love, a story about two lovers as they journey through life, love, and family. Over the next year, Gladys will be a guest on Lee Daniels and FOX TV's new series Empire. Additionally, Gladys Knight recently showcased her expertise on Centric's original series Apollo Live as a guide to contestants.
Can you say triple threat? Knight can sing, act, and even dance! With exposure to choreography over the course of her career, Gladys put her skill to the test when she joined the cast of ABC's hit reality competition Dancing with the Stars for season 14, partnering with Tristan MacManus.
Knight, known as the “Empress of Soul,” a longtime Las Vegas resident, returned to the Strip in the late-2000s to the famed Tropicana Hotel for a special engagement that ran in the newly named Gladys Knight Theater, making her the first African-American performer to have a venue named after her in Las Vegas. Knight is an iconic supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, has served as a spokesperson on Amtrak's National Train Day, and worked with Elton John and Stevie Wonder on an AIDS research benefit.
Georgia-born, Knight began performing gospel music at age four in the Mount Mariah Baptist Church and sang as a guest soloist with the Morris Brown College Choir. After winning the grand prize on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour, Gladys' mother created "The Pips," a singing group composed of Gladys, her siblings, and her cousins. Soon after, members came and went, eventually leading to the group's renaming of "Gladys Night & The Pips."
The newly named group debuted their first album in 1960, when Knight was just sixteen. With Knight singing lead and The Pips providing lush harmonies and graceful choreography, the group went on to achieve icon status, having recorded some of the most memorable songs of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
All told, Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums during the past decade. Her involvement in other creative undertakings, business ventures and humanitarian activities has been extensive, and has brought her honors from industry and community alike.
In 1995, Knight earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the next year, Gladys Knight & The Pips were inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Knight published an autobiography in 1997, followed by Knight and The Pips receiving various awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Today, Knight and her husband, William, along with various other members of the family, oversee her busy career from the Las Vegas headquarters of Shakeji, Inc., her personal entertainment corporation. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, performer, restaurateur, and businesswoman with a spiritual outlook on her life. Her faith in God has been the driving force behind all of Knight’s endeavors, guiding her through her many successes.
To read Gladys' full bio, visit this link.
