Gladys Knight’s son is sounding the alarm over the legendary singer’s grueling tour schedule, claiming he fears her husband will keep pushing the 82-year-old star until she dies.
Shanga Hankerson made the explosive accusation after Knight continued performing despite concerns about her health and reports that she struggled during a recent concert in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“My belief and fear is that he intends to literally try to work her until she passes away,” Hankerson told The Detroit News, referring to Knight’s husband and manager, William McDowell. “And you can quote me on that.”
Hankerson said he never believed McDowell planned to seriously slow down or cancel his mother’s tour, despite previous comments suggesting otherwise.
The family feud intensified after Knight’s Sept. 5 performance in Tulsa.
McDowell had previously said that if Knight had a “rough night” during that show, he would “pull the plug” on the remaining tour dates.
One concertgoer claimed Knight did, in fact, appear to struggle.
“It was hard to watch, and we all cheered her on and loved on her just the same,” attendee Paul Gregory Richard reportedly said.
Richard claimed Knight’s set ended after roughly an hour because “she just could not continue.” He also alleged that the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer began having trouble remembering lyrics during the performance.
His claims have not been independently confirmed. Video posted by another concertgoer showed Knight performing her famous hit during the show.
Despite the concerns, Knight was back onstage just four days later in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Concerts in Cincinnati and Shipshewana also remained on the schedule, along with additional dates in October.
The continued touring comes just weeks after Knight announced she planned to cut back on performing.
“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,” Knight said on Aug. 27.
Concerns over Knight’s health and touring schedule have been brewing for more than a year.
Hankerson previously accused McDowell of mentally and financially abusing his mother and said he filed a complaint with authorities in North Carolina.
He has also claimed Knight suffers from memory problems and periods of confusion.
Knight strongly denied those accusations last year, saying she was “healthy and happy.” Her representatives called Hankerson’s claims “unfounded.”
McDowell has also denied that Knight has dementia and has insisted that his wife wants to continue performing, although he acknowledged that she has good days and bad days.
Hankerson now says the decision to keep putting his mother onstage should raise serious questions.
“The fact Mr. McDowell would even make a statement that further evaluation is necessary to stop my mother from working at this point, considering all of the blatant visual evidence the public is now seeing, should tell you everything you need to know about him and his motives,” he said.
Knight’s representatives did not provide The Detroit News with details about whether any future tour dates will be canceled.
For now, the Empress of Soul remains on the road — while her son publicly warns that continuing to perform could have devastating consequences.
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