Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Gladys Knight

Discover the career path of Gladys Knight, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Gladys Knight is an acclaimed American singer, known as the "Empress of Soul." She achieved significant success with her family group, Gladys Knight & the Pips, throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, alongside her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten. A testament to her talent and impact, Knight has been honored with seven Grammy Awards for her contributions to music.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1957: Signed with Brunswick Records

In 1957, The Pips signed with Brunswick Records and began releasing singles.

1960: First Album Debut

In 1960, Gladys Knight & the Pips debuted their first album. By this time, Gladys had recorded five songs and released her first hit single “Every Beat of My Heart”.

1966: Joined Motown Records

In 1966, Gladys Knight & the Pips joined the Motown Records roster.

1967: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" hit #1

In 1967, Gladys Knight & the Pips song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" reached number one.

1969: Release of "The Nitty Gritty" and "Friendship Train"

In 1969, Gladys Knight & the Pips released major hit singles, "The Nitty Gritty" and "Friendship Train".

1970: Release of "If I Were Your Woman"

In 1970, Gladys Knight & the Pips released the major hit single "If I Were Your Woman".

1971: Release of "I Don't Want To Do Wrong"

In 1971, Gladys Knight & the Pips released the song "I Don't Want To Do Wrong".

1972: Grammy Award for "Neither One of Us"

In 1972, Gladys Knight & the Pips won a Grammy Award for "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)".

1973: Signed with Buddah Records and "Midnight Train to Georgia" Release

In 1973, Gladys Knight & the Pips left Motown and signed with Buddah Records, achieving mainstream success with hits such as the Grammy-winning "Midnight Train to Georgia".

1973: Release of "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)"

In 1973, Gladys Knight & the Pips released the single "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)".

1974: Claudine Soundtrack Recording

In the summer of 1974, Gladys Knight and the Pips recorded the soundtrack to the film Claudine with producer Curtis Mayfield, including the songs "On and On", "The Makings of You" and "Make Yours a Happy Home".

1974: Last time at number one on R&B chart since 1974

The single "Save the Overtime (For Me)" was the first time the group hit number one on the R&B chart since 1974.

1975: The Gladys Knight and the Pips Show

In 1975, Gladys Knight starred in a variety show, The Gladys Knight and the Pips Show, which was canceled after four episodes.

1976: Acting Debut in Pipe Dreams

In 1976, Gladys Knight made her acting debut as the lead in the film Pipe Dreams.

1976: "Midnight Train to Georgia" Top 5 in the UK

In the summer of 1976, "Midnight Train to Georgia" hit the Top 5 of the UK singles chart, three years after its U.S. success.

1978: First solo LP Miss Gladys Knight

Due to legal issues, Gladys Knight began recording separately from the Pips, resulting in her first solo LP recordings - Miss Gladys Knight in 1978.

1979: Gladys Knight LP Released

In 1979 Gladys Knight released the solo LP Gladys Knight on Columbia Records.

1980: Signing with Columbia Records

In 1980, Gladys Knight & the Pips signed with Columbia Records and began releasing new material.

1980: Duets with Johnny Mathis

In 1980, Johnny Mathis invited Gladys Knight to record two duets— "When A Child Is Born" and "The Lord's Prayer".

1981: Release of "Touch"

In 1981, Gladys Knight & the Pips released the album "Touch" with former Motown producers.

1983: Hit with "Save the Overtime (For Me)"

In 1983, Gladys Knight and the Pips scored again with the hit "Save the Overtime (For Me)".

1985: Co-starred in Charlie & Co.

In 1985, Gladys Knight co-starred on the CBS sitcom Charlie & Co., alongside comedian Flip Wilson.

1985: AIDS Benefit Single

In 1985, Gladys Knight joined with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John on the AIDS benefit single, "That's What Friends Are For", which won a Grammy.

1986: HBO Special Sisters in the Name of Love

In 1986, Gladys Knight shared a stage with Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle for the HBO special Sisters in the Name of Love, which she co-executive produced and received three ACE Awards.

1987: Final LP Together

In 1987, Gladys Knight decided to pursue a solo career, and she and the Pips recorded their final LP together, All Our Love, for MCA Records.

1988: Successful Tour

After a successful 1988 tour, the Pips retired and Knight began her solo career.

1989: "Licence to Kill" Recording

In 1989, Gladys Knight recorded "Licence to Kill", the title track for the James Bond film of the same name.

1989: Theme song for Licence to Kill

In 1989, Gladys Knight recorded the theme song for the James Bond film Licence to Kill.

1991: Good Woman Album Release and Success

In 1991, Gladys Knight released her third and most successful solo LP, Good Woman, which hit No. 1 on the R&B album chart.

1995: Just for You Album

In 1995, Gladys Knight's fourth solo album, Just for You, went Gold and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.

1996: Gladys Knight & the Pips Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 1996, Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2000: Grammy Award for At Last

In 2000, Gladys Knight earned her first solo Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Album for her fifth solo album, At Last.

2003: Role in Hollywood Homicide

In 2003, Gladys Knight had a small role in the movie Hollywood Homicide.

April 2004: Divas Live 2004 Co-Headliner

In April 2004, Gladys Knight co-headlined VH1's benefit concert Divas Live 2004 alongside other artists in support of the Save the Music Foundation.

April 2005: Guest Appearance on JAG

In April 2005, Gladys Knight portrayed a singer in an episode of JAG.

2005: Duet with Ray Charles Released

In 2005, a duet between Gladys Knight and Ray Charles of "You Were There" was released on Charles' duets album Genius & Friends.

2007: Gladys Knight Received the Society of Singers ELLA Award

In 2007, Gladys Knight received the Society of Singers ELLA Award and was declared the "Empress of Soul".

2008: 'Divas with Heart' Concert and American Idol Performance

In the spring of 2008, Gladys Knight appeared at the 'Divas with Heart' concert and also performed on American Idol to raise money for charity.

April 2009: Guest Appearance on Tyler Perry's House of Payne

In April 2009, Gladys Knight made a special guest appearance, and performed a song, on Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

2009: Featured in I Can Do Bad All by Myself

In 2009, Gladys Knight was featured in Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself, and performed her song "The Need To Be".

September 2011: Release of "I (Who Have Nothing)"

In September 2011, Gladys Knight released a new, updated recording of Shirley Bassey's 1960s classic "I (Who Have Nothing)" on iTunes and Amazon.

2012: Recurring Role in The First Family

In 2012, Gladys Knight began a recurring role in the syndicated sitcom The First Family.

2012: Dancing with the Stars

In 2012, Gladys Knight competed on season 14 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Tristan MacManus.

2013: Recorded "You And I Ain't Nothin' No More"

In 2013, Gladys Knight recorded the Lenny Kravitz-written and -produced song "You And I Ain't Nothin' No More" for the soundtrack from Lee Daniels' motion picture The Butler.

2014: Where My Heart Belongs Album Release and Views on Music Industry

In 2014, Gladys Knight's album Where My Heart Belongs marked her 30th top-40 R&B album. In a 2014 interview, she expressed a hope that women would "Stand Up" and stop selling sex in the music/entertainment industry.

2017: Appeared as herself in Star

In 2017, Gladys Knight appeared as herself in the musical-drama TV series Star.

2017: Gladys Knight Helped Raise Money for Children's Learning Centers

In 2017, Gladys Knight helped raise $400,000 for the Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County.

November 16, 2018: Gladys Knight Played Ella Grover in Hawaii Five-0

On November 16, 2018, Gladys Knight played Ella Grover, mother of Captain Lou Grover, in the "Lele pū nā manu like" episode of Hawaii Five-0.

2018: Gladys Knight Led the Be One Choir

In 2018, Gladys Knight led the Be One Choir at the "Be One" event in Salt Lake City, Utah.

February 2019: Gladys Knight Competed on The Masked Singer

In February 2019, Gladys Knight was revealed to have competed as "Bee" on the first season of The Masked Singer, finishing third.

2021: Gladys Knight Received the National Medal of Arts

In 2021, Gladys Knight received the National Medal of Arts.

2022: Gladys Knight Received a Kennedy Center Honor

In 2022, Gladys Knight received a Kennedy Center Honor.

2023: Gladys Knight Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2023, Gladys Knight received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.