Gladys Knight

The great ones endure, and Gladys Knight – the “Empress of Soul” – has long been one of the greatest. Very few singers over the last fifty years have matched her unassailable artistry. This seven-time Grammy-winner has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance.

Gladys Knight and The Pips debuted their first album in 1960, when Knight was just 16.  With Knight singing lead and The Pips providing lush harmonies and graceful choreography, the group went on to achieve icon status. Top 20 hits like “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “and “If I Were Your Woman” set the stage for an amazing run. With Top 10 gold-certified singles like “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye),” “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination,” and the #1 smash hit “Midnight Train to Georgia” established the group as the premiere pop/R&B vocal ensemble in the world.  

In 1995, Knight earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the next year, Gladys Knight & The Pips were inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. She and the Pips have been presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2004, Knight received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual BET Awards ceremony.

In 2014, Knight released Where My Heart Belongs, an inspiration gospel that won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Album. All told, Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums in the past decade. No stranger to performing, Knight joined the cast of ABC’s hit reality competition “Dancing with the Stars” for season 14 and has made numerous cameos and guest judge appearances.