Son Reveals Heartbreaking Developments On Gladys Knight’s Health

[letsshoot]

The legendary singer and her son Shanga Hankerson have made headlines before, but this time things are a bit more personal yet just as heartbreaking. Let’s break it all down!
By
Shanelle Genai
Published
August 13, 2025

McDowell also allegedly texted and told Hankerson that Knight has “Sundowner’s Syndrome,” where as a person ages, they get confused as the day goes into the night. Outside of that text however, Hankerson said that he and the rest of his family members have been kept out of the loop when it comes to Knight’s doctor’s visits and overall health.

Additionally, as for anybody who may feel that Hankerson was deliberately trying to sabotage his mother’s tour, he said he could care less about what people are saying and then sarcastically said that he was because didn’t want to continue seeing his mother in the state that she’s in.


“I don’t want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she’s at. I don’t want that for her,” Hankerson said.”That’s my mom, I truly love her. And don’t care about her ever working a second longer while she’s alive. The direction that she’s going in is pushing her to her departure and I don’t want to see that.”

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

Ain’t she on tour?

 

[mcguyver]

Ain’t she on tour?

Wifey went to her concert 2 months ago

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

Wifey went to her concert 2 months ago

I’m seeing her in October. She’s been on the last couple months.

 

[knightmelodic]

This dude

 

[double1]

I hope this aint true and im skeptical on her son.. because he the same nigga that fucked over the restaurant he was running that was in her name and went to prison behind it. I personally saw her in concert last year and she was fine. I know things change so I just wish Queen Gladys the best of Health and life and Luck!

 

[mcguyver]

I’m seeing her in October. She’s been on the last couple months.

I heard she gave a good performance but you can see her age is getting to her.

 

[World B Free]

This is from 2016:

Gladys Knight has denied having Alzheimer's, claiming the false diagnosis is a blackmail attempt by her son.

The 72-year-old soul legend and her youngest son Shanga Hankerson are currently embroiled in a bitter legal row about him using her name in his Atlanta-based restaurant chain.

The singer had ordered Hankerson to remove her name from his Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles outlets after he was accused of stealing from the business.

Gladys Knight denies having Alzheimer's and accuses son of blackmail

The 72-year-old soul legend and her youngest son Shanga Hankerson are currently embroiled in a bitter legal row about him using her name in his restaurant chain, based in Atlanta

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[man-machine]

Ain’t she on tour?

My sisters just saw her on the Diva tour earlier this summer. They loved the show. Gladys was great, they tell me, although she did forget the words in the middle of one song, but they say you could barely tell. Tony Bennet was out there singing duets with Lady GAGA, and before the shows, sometimes he couldn't remember her name.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

I hope this aint true and im skeptical on her son..

Before restaurant debacle, a troubled childhood for Gladys Knight's son

Years before Shanga Hankerson was a troubled restaurateur, he was the troubled youngest son of soul music icon Gladys Knight.

www.ajc.com

Gladys Knight’s son sentenced to prison for tax crimes

Shanga Hankerson withheld payroll taxes for the restaurant’s that shared his mother’s name

www.independent.co.uk

Gladys Knight’s Son, Shanga Hankerson, Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison For Unpaid Taxes

Shanga Hankerson owned three famous Chicken and Waffles restaurants that were shut down in 2016 by Georgia Dept. of Revenue.

www.vibe.com

Shanga Hankerson says mother Gladys Knight is mentally incompetent

Last month, Gladys Knight sued to have her name removed from son Shanga Hankerson’s Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant chain and the return of her memorabilia after he was arrested for suspicion of theft and money laundering. Hankerson is said to be countersuing his mother with...

www.stlamerican.com

 

[the artist]

Ironically I was just about to make a thread asking if anyone here is personally dealing with a family member who suggested from dementia/sun downers because i am and this shit is horrible to witness.

 

[OutlawR.O.C.]

Ironically I was just about to make a thread asking if anyone here is personally dealing with a family member who suggested from dementia/sun downers because i am and this shit is horrible to witness.

I'm sorry to hear my brother.

I would still make a separate thread to discuss it since this may not get the attention and will just seem like celebrity gossip to some.

 

[Texas Catdaddy]

I hope this aint true and im skeptical on her son.. because he the same nigga that fucked over the restaurant he was running that was in her name and went to prison behind it. I personally saw her in concert last year and she was fine. I know things change so I just wish Queen Gladys the best of Health and life and Luck!

my uncle loves this women .....

 

[godofwine]

Ain’t she on tour?

Wifey went to her concert 2 months ago

I saw this concert when it was Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills, Chaka Khan and Patti LaBelle in Cincinnati. The backup singers did the heavy lifting except for Stephanie Mills. Patti did okay, but the teleprompter broke. Stephanie Mills danced around the stage the whole time. She is the youngest of the bunch though.

Gladys Knight is 81, so I hope she stays around as long as she wants to