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Gladys Knight has announced that she is "easing into fewer performances" following concerns about her appearing disoriented onstage.
The 82 year old Midnight Train to Georgia vocalist left some concertgoers concerned during a recent appearance when she looked toward the side of the stage during one song and allowed her backing vocalists to take over.
According to a Billboard review, "She barely got through this show, and only by leaning heavily on her backup singers. Artists need to know when it's time to bow out gracefully."
Following her most recent concert, Gladys issued a statement about her future plans. "After much soul searching I've decided that I will be easing into fewer performances while focusing on transitioning into the next stage of my career and life moving forward," she explained. "I'll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era."
She added, "I'd like to take a moment, in advance, to thank all my fans over this last three quarters of a century for making a little girl's dream come true and supporting her every step of the way. I am immensely grateful to all of you and send my eternal love back to you. I hope to see your smiling faces out and about and on the road. God bless all of you and hope to see you soon."
Knight’s husband and manager, William McDowell, told TMZ that the singer intends to remain onstage. Although individuals involved with the tour reportedly believe she is "showing symptoms of dementia," McDowell said she has not been medically assessed. He explained that he would call off her remaining concerts if she experiences a "rough night" at her next appearance on September 5.
In 2025, Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson, alleged that McDowell was forcing his mother to continue working while subjecting her to "emotional and financial abuse." Knight rejected those accusations.
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Beatles listeners have been given the chance to hear an early home recording of ‘Day Tripper’ from before it developed into one of the group’s best known songs.
‘Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape)’ was captured at late frontman John Lennon’s Kenwood home while The Beatles were working on ‘Rubber Soul’, and it sounds completely different from the completed single. The famous guitar riff had not yet been created. Instead, Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney can be heard exploring ideas from an older folk song John had been developing, while joking, laughing and experimenting with lyrics together.
The completed version of ‘Day Tripper’ was later created during an intense eight hour studio session before being issued as a double A side with ‘We Can Work It Out’ and left off ‘Rubber Soul’. However, the newly released audio captures the track at its earliest and most natural stage, including a moment when John jokes about the recording volume as the pair work through their ideas.
The recording has been shared ahead of the ‘Rubber Soul Special Edition’, which will arrive on October 2. The extended collection explores the making of the record through 24 early studio sessions, 20 previously unreleased takes, three home demos and a selection of fresh and original mixes. It follows the recent arrival of ‘Michelle (Take 1)’, offering another glimpse into the band’s creative process.
Its release follows an expansion of the long term relationship between UMG, Apple Corps and the legendary Liverpool group. UMG will now manage The Beatles’ worldwide merchandise, licensing and electronic commerce operations. UMG chief Sir Lucian Grainge recently described the band as “one of the most iconic and enduring cultural brands of all time,” while calling the agreement an important move toward developing new ways for audiences to connect with their history.
The Beatles’ influence continues to reach new audiences around the world. For Global Beatles Day, Apple Corps colourised the band’s 1967 ‘All You Need Is Love’ broadcast and uploaded it to YouTube for the first time, while fans celebrated through events held across several countries. An immersive Beatles attraction is scheduled to open at 3 Savile Row in 2027, followed by Sam Mendes’ four film Beatles project in 2028.
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