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Gladys Knight’s Early Life
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02of 18Gladys Knight on The Original Amateur HourMichael Ochs Archives/GettyIn 1952, Knight first stepped onto the musical scene when she appeared on Ted Mack’sThe Original Amateur Hour. Not only did she win the competition at the age of 8, but it led her to perform even more with her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and their cousins Eleanor and William Guest.
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Gladys Knight on The Original Amateur Hour
In 1952, Knight first stepped onto the musical scene when she appeared on Ted Mack’sThe Original Amateur Hour. Not only did she win the competition at the age of 8, but it led her to perform even more with her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and their cousins Eleanor and William Guest.
03of 18Gladys Knight and the PipsRB/RedfernsAfter performing with her siblings and cousins at a birthday party, Knight’s mother encouraged the kids to form an actual musical group, which they eventually called The Pips (they later changed the group’s name to Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1961).After performing in several talent shows together, they signed with Brunswick Records in 1957, paving the way for their musical successes. The group later signed with Motown Records in the late ’60s, when they reached commercial success with singles such as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.“The group — which over the years included Gladys Knight, Bubba Knight, William Guest, Edward Patten, Brenda Knight, Eleanor Guest, and Langston George — received critical acclaim from 1952 to 1989, including several Top 20 hits and multiple Grammy wins. They were also inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001, furthering their status as R&B music legends.
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Gladys Knight and the Pips
RB/Redferns
After performing with her siblings and cousins at a birthday party, Knight’s mother encouraged the kids to form an actual musical group, which they eventually called The Pips (they later changed the group’s name to Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1961).
After performing in several talent shows together, they signed with Brunswick Records in 1957, paving the way for their musical successes. The group later signed with Motown Records in the late ’60s, when they reached commercial success with singles such as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
The group — which over the years included Gladys Knight, Bubba Knight, William Guest, Edward Patten, Brenda Knight, Eleanor Guest, and Langston George — received critical acclaim from 1952 to 1989, including several Top 20 hits and multiple Grammy wins. They were also inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001, furthering their status as R&B music legends.
04of 18Gladys Knight in Pipe DreamsLMPC via GettyIn addition to singing with the Pips, Knight began branching out into acting in the mid-1970s. In 1976, she made her acting debut as the lead in the filmPipe Dreamsfor which she was nominated for a Golden Globe for new star of the year – actress.
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Gladys Knight in Pipe Dreams
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In addition to singing with the Pips, Knight began branching out into acting in the mid-1970s. In 1976, she made her acting debut as the lead in the filmPipe Dreamsfor which she was nominated for a Golden Globe for new star of the year – actress.
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Gladys Knight’s Television Appearances
Knight also made several television appearances in the ’70s and ’80s. She briefly starred on the short-lived variety showThe Gladys Knight and the Pips Showin 1975 in addition to appearing onThe Muppet Show,The Jeffersons, andLiving Single, among many others.
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Gladys Knight’s Performance of That’s What Friends Are For
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07of 18Gladys Knight’s Solo CareerRon Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1978, Knight began to branch out as a solo artist with the release of her debut album titledMiss Gladys Knight. Over the years, Knight has released 11 studio albums, one of her most notable albums beingGood Womanin 1991, which hit No. 1 on the R&B album chart and received a Grammy nomination for the track “Superwoman.”
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Gladys Knight’s Solo Career
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
In 1978, Knight began to branch out as a solo artist with the release of her debut album titledMiss Gladys Knight. Over the years, Knight has released 11 studio albums, one of her most notable albums beingGood Womanin 1991, which hit No. 1 on the R&B album chart and received a Grammy nomination for the track “Superwoman.”
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Gladys Knight’s Grammy Wins
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09of 18Gladys Knight’s Hollywood Walk of Fame StarMIKE NELSON/AFP via GettyOn June 27, 1995, Knight was recognized for her many musical achievements with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Gladys Knight’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
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On June 27, 1995, Knight was recognized for her many musical achievements with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
10of 18Gladys Knight’s Induction Into the Rock and Roll Hall of FameKe.Mazur/WireImageA year after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Knight and the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Davie Bowie, Pink Floyd and more. During the induction dinner, Knight snapped a photo alongside Mariah Carey,who inducted the group during the ceremony.
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Gladys Knight’s Induction Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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A year after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Knight and the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Davie Bowie, Pink Floyd and more. During the induction dinner, Knight snapped a photo alongside Mariah Carey,who inducted the group during the ceremony.
11of 18Gladys Knight’s Lifetime Acheivement AwardsChris McKay/FilmMagicIn addition to her various music honors, Knight has also received several lifetime achievement awards. In 1992, she received the Essence Award for Career Achievement; in 2002, she received the BET Lifetime Achievement Award (pictured); and in 2011, she received the Soul Train Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Gladys Knight’s Lifetime Acheivement Awards
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In addition to her various music honors, Knight has also received several lifetime achievement awards. In 1992, she received the Essence Award for Career Achievement; in 2002, she received the BET Lifetime Achievement Award (pictured); and in 2011, she received the Soul Train Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.
12of 18Gladys Knight’s Farewell TourHoward Denner/Avalon/GettyIn October 2009, Knight embarked on her farewell tour in the United Kingdom, featuring appearances from Tito Jackson and Dionne Warwick. Despite being named her “farewell” tour, she has continued to tour and perform publicly since.
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Gladys Knight’s Farewell Tour
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In October 2009, Knight embarked on her farewell tour in the United Kingdom, featuring appearances from Tito Jackson and Dionne Warwick. Despite being named her “farewell” tour, she has continued to tour and perform publicly since.
13of 18Gladys Knight on Dancing With the StarsAdam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettyIn 2012, Knight competed on season 14 ofDancing with the Starsalongside partner Tristan MacManus. The dancing couple came in eighth overall, with Green Bay Packers wide receiverDonald Driver taking home the coveted Mirrorball Trophyat the end of the season.
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Gladys Knight on Dancing With the Stars
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In 2012, Knight competed on season 14 ofDancing with the Starsalongside partner Tristan MacManus. The dancing couple came in eighth overall, with Green Bay Packers wide receiverDonald Driver taking home the coveted Mirrorball Trophyat the end of the season.
14of 18Gladys Knight on The Masked SingerFOX Image Collection via GettyA few years after appearing onDWTS, Knight competed on another reality competition. In 2019,she was revealed as the “Bee"onThe Masked Singer, placing third in the competition.
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Gladys Knight on The Masked Singer
FOX Image Collection via Getty
A few years after appearing onDWTS, Knight competed on another reality competition. In 2019,she was revealed as the “Bee"onThe Masked Singer, placing third in the competition.
15of 18Gladys Knight at the 2019 Super BowlJim Davis/The Boston Globe via GettyIn 2019, Knight hadthe high honorofsinging the national anthematSuper Bowl LIII, where the New England Patriots won against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Knight’s hometown.
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Gladys Knight at the 2019 Super Bowl
Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty
In 2019, Knight hadthe high honorofsinging the national anthematSuper Bowl LIII, where the New England Patriots won against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Knight’s hometown.
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Gladys Knight’s Kids
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In addition to being a music legend, Knight is a mother of three children: son James “Jimmy” Gaston Newman III born in August 1962, daughter Kenya Maria Newman (pictured left) born in November 1963, and son Shanga Ali Hankerson born in August 1976.
17of 18Gladys Knight’s Husband William McDowellJeff Kravitz/FilmMagicIn April 2001,Knight married corporate consultant William McDowellduring a private ceremony in California. Since then, the couple have given several glimpses of their romance, including attending various events together andsharing heartfelt tributes to each otheron social media.Before McDowell, Knight was previously married three times prior: to James “Jimmy” Newman from 1960 to 1973, Barry Hankerson from 1974 to 1979, and Les Brown from 1995 to 1997.
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Gladys Knight’s Husband William McDowell
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
In April 2001,Knight married corporate consultant William McDowellduring a private ceremony in California. Since then, the couple have given several glimpses of their romance, including attending various events together andsharing heartfelt tributes to each otheron social media.
Before McDowell, Knight was previously married three times prior: to James “Jimmy” Newman from 1960 to 1973, Barry Hankerson from 1974 to 1979, and Les Brown from 1995 to 1997.
18of 18Gladys Knight at the Summer of Soul ScreeningRoy Rochlin/GettyAfter a nearly eight decades-long career, Knight shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In addition to touring across the globe, she has continued to perform on stage and on the screen.In 2021, she made an appearance as herself in Eddie Murphy’sComing 2 Americafilm and that same year, she performed at a screening forQuestlove’sSummer of Souldocumentaryabout the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which featured appearances from Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and more notable artists.
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Gladys Knight at the Summer of Soul Screening
Roy Rochlin/Getty
After a nearly eight decades-long career, Knight shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In addition to touring across the globe, she has continued to perform on stage and on the screen.
In 2021, she made an appearance as herself in Eddie Murphy’sComing 2 Americafilm and that same year, she performed at a screening forQuestlove’sSummer of Souldocumentaryabout the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which featured appearances from Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and more notable artists.
source: people.com
