Is Gladys Knight ok?

[carlo]

Some of us have expressed concern for Gladys' health in a few different threads, during the past year or two. Yes, to give her some grace...she is 81 after all. She still sounds and looks great, but she is now looking more frail and moves slow on stage. An assistant now guides her on and off stage. She did cancel a show, a few months ago, after reportedly having the flu and was hospitalized. However, I have noticed lately that she does seem to be showing signs of forgetfulness. Sadly, I suspect it's more than just having a simple 'seniors moment'. Just a few examples...skip ahead to the 1:00 mark in the first video...

https://youtu.be/vMxc1tlaOUE?si=dCnFqq0ympsrfFr-

https://youtube.com/shorts/1MpDd2oVH...MXolDeqREC_c2a

https://youtu.be/XrgNJQj1Hic?si=Nl7bszOltm1ldKrZ

Trying to be sensitive and compassionate here, because I love this legendary lady dearly, like we all do...but maybe it's time to call it a day? In the first video, she seemed to forget where she was, and one of her background singers had to get her attention. Or is it just me?

[1382hitsville]

Oh my sweet dear. For me the first video stands out. I love her. That's is all I say. I love her

[thanxal]

It looked like it could have been a microphone issue in the first one and maybe a missed cue in the others. But this reminds me of the recent issue around Frankie Valli. I know this generation of performers just want to keep on going, but they are getting very senior. I wish they could get some rest. There is something about these 80+ year olds still up there performing night after night that doesn’t seem right to me. Maybe they all need the money since they came up in the days when the records companies ultra-exploited them. If that’s true, it’s even sadder.

[BayouMotownMan]

I have noticed this about Miss Gladys for over a year, how frail and unwell she looks. She did have a cancer battle of her own that she revealed around the time Aretha passed. I'm just hoping, like Aretha's, that hers has not returned.

[1382hitsville]

Unlike her backing vocals, she doesn't look to have in ear monitors. I never want to speculate about health issues. My own mother dearest is 81, Gladys [[Martha and Diana) look soo much healthier and energised than my mother. So still kudos to them. Joan Collins just did another acting job at 92 years old. Rest Rusts is a saying. I wish nothing but love to the performers.

[daviddesper]

We could all name a dozen singers in their 80s, or even 90s, who don't seem ready to hang it up. In some ways, that is admirable, but I guess we just have to trust each one to know when the time is right for them to either retire or at least adjust.

I will use Johnny Mathis as an example......when I saw him in concert about three years ago, I marveled at how graceful he still seemed and sounded. But that clip posted on here a few weeks ago of his final performance was just frightening. It did not even look like the same person I had seen. So there can be a lot of change in a relatively short time with some people.

[jobeterob]

These singers have had a great job that is fun and addictive and they are reluctant to give them up. I’ve admired their dedication and devotion but as time goes on, I have more questions about how far they should push it. I’ve read that Gladys had a gambling addiction and debt and family debt problems so maybe she has a reason to continue - she sounds very good but she doesn’t look in robust health and in some interviews she seems not in the happiest frame of mind - but happier and less testy than Aretha ever was.

Smokey’s face is enough to cringe at and why would he have to name an album Gasms at 85 when he’s facing accusations over recent years. Why does he have to talk about sleeping with Diana Ross 60 years ago? It’s nuts.

Diana’s voice isn’t what it was and she’s not the entertainer scooting around the stage that she used to be but her reviews generally are good and she seems to be selling seats. But I’m not sure I’d like to see her doing that at 85.

The reviews for Patti Labelle and Dionne Warwick are not great - mostly that Patti does too much yelling and that Dionne is too old.

And then there’s Frankie Valli and Johnny Mathis.

Maybe there is a time to call it a day.

[Levi Stubbs Tears]

I would hope that all the artists 'ripped off' by record companies, agents etc in thhe 60s learned from their youthful mistakes.

Got some good financial advice and ploughed as much of their earnings since into purchasing a home and investing as much as possible in a portfolio which they could look to in their senior years.

I'd hope most would have managed this by their 50s or 60s and any performances since were done 'for the fans' or for their own love of performing. Any money earned would be just spending money not much-needed income.

I'm sure that not everyone managed this but I'd hope that all of the bigger/more successful ones [[eg Gladys, Dionne, Darlene, Johnny) of the later years did.

[Sotosound]

These singers have had a great job that is fun and addictive and they are reluctant to give them up. I’ve admired their dedication and devotion but as time goes on, I have more questions about how far they should push it. I’ve read that Gladys had a gambling addiction and debt and family debt problems so maybe she has a reason to continue - she sounds very good but she doesn’t look in robust health and in some interviews she seems not in the happiest frame of mind - but happier and less testy than Aretha ever was.

Smokey’s face is enough to cringe at and why would he have to name an album Gasms at 85 when he’s facing accusations over recent years. Why does he have to talk about sleeping with Diana Ross 60 years ago? It’s nuts.

Diana’s voice isn’t what it was and she’s not the entertainer scooting around the stage that she used to be but her reviews generally are good and she seems to be selling seats. But I’m not sure I’d like to see her doing that at 85.

The reviews for Patti Labelle and Dionne Warwick are not great - mostly that Patti does too much yelling and that Dionne is too old.

And then there’s Frankie Valli and Johnny Mathis.

Maybe there is a time to call it a day.

Don't be too hard on them. After all, they're just trying to save for their old age.....

[Motown Eddie]

While I've heard reports questioning Gladys Knight's health, I haven't seen anything in the news that says that she's suffering from any illness. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her [and for my other musical heroes] that we'll have more years to enjoy her and her work.

[Roberta75]

Some of us have expressed concern for Gladys' health in a few different threads, during the past year or two. Yes, to give her some grace...she is 81 after all. She still sounds and looks great, but she is now looking more frail and moves slow on stage. An assistant now guides her on and off stage. She did cancel a show, a few months ago, after reportedly having the flu and was hospitalized. However, I have noticed lately that she does seem to be showing signs of forgetfulness. Sadly, I suspect it's more than just having a simple 'seniors moment'. Just a few examples...skip ahead to the 1:00 mark in the first video...

https://youtu.be/vMxc1tlaOUE?si=dCnFqq0ympsrfFr-

https://youtube.com/shorts/1MpDd2oVH...MXolDeqREC_c2a

https://youtu.be/XrgNJQj1Hic?si=Nl7bszOltm1ldKrZ

Trying to be sensitive and compassionate here, because I love this legendary lady dearly, like we all do...but maybe it's time to call it a day? In the first video, she seemed to forget where she was, and one of her background singers had to get her attention. Or is it just me?

She looks real frail but I think the teleprompter was messing her up. Im not a big fan but i hope and pray the dear lady is okay.

[telekin]

The lady still sounds magnificent, however I've been concerned too looking at how frail she's been getting.

Sorry to say, but this brings me back to when she had to file a lawsuit against her son, Shanga Hankerson. This was back in 2016 when he ran into trouble with the Atlanta restaurant he ran which bore her name. I believe she was trying to get her name removed from the restaurant, as she was not involved in any of its day-to-day operations. She accused her son of extortion when he threatened to release information about her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Her camp claimed it wasn't true at the time. Looking at her now though, and the dramatic weight loss is an early sign, I'm inclined to believe that she's likely in the stages of Alzheimer's.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...203242884.html

Now, before we accuse her of being desperate to make money, I think part of keeping someone who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's healthy is to make sure they can do activities and keep within routines that are familiar and keep them engaged for as long as possible. Hers just happen to be more public-facing than most. I'm sure by the time she stops, or is perhaps forced to stop, her condition may just go downhill quite rapidly.

[Roberta75]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...203242884.html

Now, before we accuse her of being desperate to make money, I think part of keeping someone who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's healthy is to make sure they can do activities and keep within routines that are familiar and keep them engaged for as long as possible.

Bravo. Thats so very true telekin and I applaud what youve said above.

[jobeterob]

The lady still sounds magnificent, however I've been concerned too looking at how frail she's been getting.

Sorry to say, but this brings me back to when she had to file a lawsuit against her son, Shanga Hankerson. This was back in 2016 when he ran into trouble with the Atlanta restaurant he ran which bore her name. I believe she was trying to get her name removed from the restaurant, as she was not involved in any of its day-to-day operations. She accused her son of extortion when he threatened to release information about her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Her camp claimed it wasn't true at the time. Looking at her now though, and the dramatic weight loss is an early sign, I'm inclined to believe that she's likely in the stages of Alzheimer's.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...203242884.html

Now, before we accuse her of being desperate to make money, I think part of keeping someone who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's healthy is to make sure they can do activities and keep within routines that are familiar and keep them engaged for as long as possible. Hers just happen to be more public-facing than most. I'm sure by the time she stops, or is perhaps forced to stop, her condition may just go downhill quite rapidly.

I’m always reminded these people are as human as us all - health issues arise and sometimes things don’t work out with your kids.
Sounds like Gladys has had some rocky times.

[midnightman]

Gladys is a very private person so we don't really know the full details of what's been ailing her in the last few years. You can tell her energy was low that she had to drop the pitch of Neither One of Us two octaves. Just a few years before, she was still able to sing it in the original key but she hasn't done it in about 4-5 years. She's definitely not as energetic as she once was. You could say that's just due to her aging or something else could be going on. Like recently, people were curious about Freddie Jackson's health and he's a decade younger than Gladys and then after it was all on TikTok [[him performing lethargically and looking thin and elderly), Freddie revealed that he suffered from cancer. So maybe that's what's going on with Gladys too...

[carlo]

Lots of good points made throughout this thread. Telekin made a good point about her son's extortion attempt and his threat to go public with her diagnosis. I had forgotten all about that.

I had come across a post today that was made in April, in a Gladys Knight Facebook fan group. This fan had voiced their concern, similar to my initial post above, and stated that maybe it's time for Gladys to retire. There were other fans who commented and they also noticed her recent decline. Many of us feel she deserves to retire and enjoy her life. I agree with this. Go out on a high, while you still can. I appreciate that she's able to perform in a more comfortable manner on this Queens tour [with Patti, Chaka and Stephanie], since her set is approx. 25 minutes. Hopefully she will slow down after this tour ends.

[Sotosound]

Perhaps, for Gladys, retiring would mean no longer enjoying her life.

If a person deeply enjoys what they do then stopping can be akin to suffering from a bereavement.

Being forced to stop by circumstances beyond one's control can be worse still as there is zero personal choice and there are often darker prospects looming on the horizon.

[1382hitsville]

It reminds me of the "I'll be me" documentary of Glen Campbell. In this documentary he is followed on his farewell tour, being diagnosed with Alzheimer's decease.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_C...:_I%27ll_Be_Me

Can't remember the exact quote, but someone said that he might not remember which day it is, but if he performs, his guitar play is still amazing. I also remember various doctors said that keeping busy and active actually delays the process of decline.

[carlo]

Perhaps, for Gladys, retiring would mean no longer enjoying her life.

If a person deeply enjoys what they do then stopping can be akin to suffering from a bereavement.

Being forced to stop by circumstances beyond one's control can be worse still as there is zero personal choice and there are often darker prospects looming on the horizon.

I agree with this, Sotosound. Having been through the Alzheimer's journey in my own family, there is a very fine line between the two ends of this continuum. One end of the continuum is where you want your loved one to continue to derive enjoyment and a sense of normalcy in their life, as much as possible. The other end of the continuum is being a caregiver and trying to balance this continuation of enjoyment and normalcy for your loved one, without them endangering themselves or others in the process. It can be a hard judgment to make, since it's such a fine line, and the decline involved with this terrible disease can sometimes be very sudden, in its different stages. As you said, there can be an element of suffering from a bereavement, when the individual with the diagnosis comes to the realization that they can no longer participate in a certain activity or be in a certain environment. Then there's sometimes grief, or even denial, from familial caregiver[s], who keep them in these activities or situations longer than they should be. It's such a difficult and terrible situation to navigate.

I just hope Gladys is well and safe, and that her family is prioritizing her well being, and helping her make the best decisions in light of whatever her health situation is.

[carlo]

It reminds me of the "I'll be me" documentary of Glen Campbell. In this documentary he is followed on his farewell tour, being diagnosed with Alzheimer's decease.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_C...:_I%27ll_Be_Me

Can't remember the exact quote, but someone said that he might not remember which day it is, but if he performs, his guitar play is still amazing. I also remember various doctors said that keeping busy and active actually delays the process of decline.

Thanks for reminding me of this documentary, as I had wanted to see it and forgot about it.

[thanxal]

Perhaps, for Gladys, retiring would mean no longer enjoying her life.

If a person deeply enjoys what they do then stopping can be akin to suffering from a bereavement.

Being forced to stop by circumstances beyond one's control can be worse still as there is zero personal choice and there are often darker prospects looming on the horizon.

I hope this is the reason and not lack of money. Can’t fault her if she does need the money but it would be sad if that were the case. Wasn’t the case with Tony Bennett that he didn’t need the money but it helped him just to perform?

[reese]

It reminds me of the "I'll be me" documentary of Glen Campbell. In this documentary he is followed on his farewell tour, being diagnosed with Alzheimer's decease.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_C...:_I%27ll_Be_Me

Can't remember the exact quote, but someone said that he might not remember which day it is, but if he performs, his guitar play is still amazing. I also remember various doctors said that keeping busy and active actually delays the process of decline.

I caught Glen at Carnegie Hall during his farewell tour and he sounded as great as ever. It was only between songs that his illness showed. I think he was comforted by having some family members on stage with him.

[PeaceNHarmony]

Gladys has looked increasingly ill for several years. She sounds good in these clips, but ... seems like memory / cognition complications to me.

[PeaceNHarmony]

I've watched quite a bit of YT vids of these shows. I'm glad I saw all the ladies in their prime.

[carlo]

I agree with both of your posts, Peace. Also, welcome back

[YourOldStandBy]

Gasms is such a repulsive word, isn't it? Smokey, why?

For every singer like say, PP Arnold from that era who still has an incredible voice, there about ten whose pipes are just a fraction of their youthful glory, whether it's down to their owners being in their 80s now, a foundation of improper or damaging techniques that took its toll over decades, a lifeling smoking habit, or a combination of all. I am very excited to see Diana this July, but I have made my peace with the fact that her backup singers will be doing most of the vocal heavy lifting. At this point, in many cases you are paying for the experience of seeing a legend [[and at this point, while you still can) rather than their singing abilities at this point.

Some greats have retired for their health, like Barbara Lewis, which is sad but understandable.