Gladys Knight’s son claims her husband is pushing her to perform despite health concerns

Shanga Hankerson’s allegations deepen a public family dispute over the 82-year-old singer’s touring schedule and well-being.

Gladys Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson, has accused the singer’s husband and manager, William McDowell, of pushing the 82-year-old soul legend to continue performing despite concerns about her health.

Hankerson made the allegation in comments to The Detroit News, saying he believes McDowell never intended to substantially reduce his mother’s touring schedule. He went further, telling the newspaper that he fears McDowell could continue working Knight until she dies.

TMZ reported Sept. 14 that Hankerson’s accusations came as Knight continued performing weeks after announcing that she planned to scale back her live schedule. The development has intensified an already public family dispute over Knight’s workload and well-being.

Knight announced in August that she would “be easing into fewer performances” while preparing for what she described as the next stage of her career and life. The decision followed several performances that prompted concern among fans, including an Aug. 18 show in Detroit where she took multiple breaks and a July appearance at the Hollywood Bowl that generated questions about her performance.

McDowell has pushed back against claims that he is forcing his wife to remain on the road. He previously told TMZ that Knight wanted to continue singing and said a Sept. 5 concert in Tulsa would help determine whether additional performances should be canceled. He also said Knight had not been diagnosed with dementia, while acknowledging that she has good and bad days.

Knight did perform after the Tulsa date, appearing in Terre Haute, Indiana, followed by scheduled performances in Cincinnati and Shipshewana. Her current listings also show additional dates in October and November, including shows in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gladys Knight (@msgladysknight)

Amid the renewed scrutiny, Knight herself offered a different tone. In a statement shared Monday, she said the “midnight train” still has “just a few more stops” and confirmed that she intends to finish her remaining 2026 performances before pursuing new ventures next year.

That statement is significant because it comes directly from Knight, rather than from either side of the family dispute. While Hankerson has questioned whether his mother is being overworked, Knight has publicly indicated that she intends to complete her remaining commitments.