At 80, Gladys Knight FINALLY Confirms The Rumors 

Knight has revealed that she didn’t want to sign with the Soul Label at Motown Records. The Pips, her brother Bubba, and cousins outnumbered her, voting to sign with Motown in 1966.

Gladys and The Pips hoped to rise to fame at Motown, but they soon encountered difficulties. Diana Ross, the lead singer of The Supremes, was also at Motown, and there were rumors that Motown’s founder, Barry Gordy, favored her.

Gladys Knight, known as the “Empress of Soul,” has long been a household name, beloved for her powerful voice and contributions to music with the iconic group Gladys Knight & the Pips. Throughout her illustrious career, Knight has faced numerous challenges, both personal and professional. For decades, certain aspects of her life have remained shrouded in mystery, leading fans and the media to speculate about her struggles, relationships, and choices. Now, at the age of 80, Knight is finally opening up and confirming some of the long-standing rumors that have followed her throughout her career, giving fans a deeper insight into her life.

Knight’s early life was deeply rooted in music. Born on May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, Gladys was raised in a family where music played a central role. Her parents, both involved in their church choir, encouraged her musical talents from a very young age. At just four years old, Gladys was already performing at the Mount Mariah Baptist Church, and by the age of eight, she was winning singing competitions. Music would become her passion and her career, leading to her involvement with the Pips, a group she formed with her brother and cousins.

Though the Pips initially struggled to gain recognition, they eventually became one of the most popular and influential R&B acts of the 1960s. Their success skyrocketed, especially after they changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips, with Gladys taking center stage as the lead singer. Knight’s powerful voice captivated audiences, and the group released hits like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Midnight Train to Georgia,” and “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye).” Their songs became staples of soul and R&B music, and Gladys Knight earned her title as the Empress of Soul, winning 10 Grammy Awards throughout her career.

However, the journey to fame was not without its hardships. One of the most well-known struggles in Knight’s career was her tumultuous relationship with the Motown label. In 1966, the Pips signed with the legendary record company, hoping to make a name for themselves alongside stars like Diana Ross and The Supremes. However, Knight and the group quickly found themselves overshadowed by Ross and the label’s internal politics. Barry Gordy, Motown’s founder, was known to favor Ross, and Knight revealed in later interviews that she often felt overlooked, despite her immense talent.

The tension between Knight and Diana Ross reached a boiling point during a 1967 performance when the Pips opened for The Supremes. After their performance, Knight recalled receiving a call from Gordy, who informed her that the group was being kicked off the tour. According to Knight, this decision was largely influenced by Ross, who didn’t want the Pips to outshine her. Although Knight never directly accused Diana of sabotaging their success, she admitted that Ross wasn’t pleased with her presence in the spotlight, which only added to the tension between the two.

In her tell-all book, Knight confirmed the longstanding rumors about her feud with Diana Ross, shedding light on the animosity that existed between them during their early years at Motown. However, the drama didn’t end there. For years, Knight and Ross had a public rivalry, with both women being giants of soul music. Yet, in 2005, after more than three decades of discord, the two women came to terms with their past and made amends. In interviews, Knight admitted that both she and Ross had been young and struggling with their own issues at the time, leading to their tension. Eventually, they were able to apologize and move forward, ending their feud after 37 years.

While her musical career was flourishing, Knight’s personal life was fraught with difficulties. At the tender age of 16, she found herself pregnant and married James “Jimmy” Newman, a musician from Atlanta. Their marriage, however, was plagued by tragedy. After suffering a miscarriage, Knight eventually gave birth to their son, James Gaston Newman, but her marriage to Jimmy was troubled by his struggles with substance abuse. Despite the difficulties, Knight remained committed to her family and put her music career on hold for a period to care for her son.

In the early 1970s, Knight faced another heartbreaking personal setback when she divorced Jimmy Newman. She went on to marry music producer Barry Hankerson in 1974, and together they had a son, Shanga Ali Hankerson. However, their marriage was short-lived, ending in 1979 after a bitter custody battle over their son. The custody battle was particularly painful for Knight, as her son struggled psychologically after the divorce and developed an eating disorder. But Knight remained strong and continued to focus on her career and her family.

Sadly, her struggles as a mother didn’t end there. In a terrifying moment, her son Shanga was kidnapped when he was just three years old. Knight poured her energy and resources into finding him, spending upwards of $1 million to secure his release. The experience was a devastating one for her, but it also showed her unwavering strength as a mother. Despite this traumatic event, Knight’s dedication to her family and career never wavered.

Knight’s personal life continued to be marked by a series of difficult relationships, including a brief marriage to motivational speaker Les Brown in the 1990s. Their union, which Knight once described as a “dream come true,” ultimately ended in divorce after just two years. The emotional toll of her personal life was compounded by her struggles with gambling, a problem that would plague her for over a decade.

Knight has since admitted that her gambling addiction, which began in the 1980s, was a significant problem in her life. She described how it started as a casual activity but soon spiraled into an obsession, costing her substantial amounts of money and valuable time away from her family. At one point, she realized she had spent more time in casinos than with her children. After losing tens of thousands of dollars, Knight sought help and attended Gamblers Anonymous, ultimately overcoming her addiction. This period of her life is one that Knight has spoken about openly, admitting that it was a difficult and dark chapter, but one that she overcame with the support of her family and faith.

Now, at the age of 80, Gladys Knight has decided to share her story, confirming the rumors and revealing the challenges she has faced over the years. Her decision to speak openly about her past, from her struggles with gambling and relationships to her rivalry with Diana Ross, has been met with both admiration and respect. Knight’s journey has been filled with both triumphs and trials, but through it all, she has remained a true icon of music and a symbol of resilience.

Gladys Knight’s decision to share her truth at this stage in her life is an act of courage and self-reflection. Her fans have followed her for decades, but now, they are learning even more about the woman behind the music. With her remarkable career and her inspiring personal story, Gladys Knight continues to prove that even in the face of adversity, it’s possible to rise and shine—just like the legendary voice that has captivated generations.