Gladys Knight Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Song for her Lenny Kravitz-produced song "You and I Ain't No More," featured in the film "The Butler," in 2014
• Has been recognized by many organizations for her humanitarian work, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Congress of Racial Equality
• Is the national spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association and also supports the American Cancer Society, the Minority AIDS Project, and the Boys & Girls Club of America
• Received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards in 2005
• Began singing with the Mount Mariah Baptist Church choir at the age of four and was a guest soloist with the Morris Brown College Choir
• Formed The Pips with her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Elenor Guest when she was eight years old
• Founder and owner of the restaurant Gladys Knight's Chicken & Waffles Concepts in Atlanta since 1997
• Stars as the mother of the President in the TV series "The First Family" and serves as a judge on the competition series "Apollo Live" with Doug E․ Fresh and Michael Bivins
• Best known as an R&B and soul singer and songwriter who performed with her group The Pips
• The Pips became Gladys Knight & The Pips after Brenda and Elenor left the group in 1959 and were replaced by her cousin Edward Patten and her friend Langston George