Gladys Knight Marks 80th Birthday with Sweet Note: ‘I Am Honored to Live This Wonderful Life’

Knight celebrated her 80th birthday on Tuesday

Gladys Knight attends the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS at The Beverly Hills Hotel on September 21, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.

 

Gladys Knight in Beverly Hills in September 2023. Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Gladys Knight is entering a new decade with gratitude.

On Tuesday, May 28, the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer marked her 80th birthday with a reflective post on Instagram.

“80 years of beautiful life, love, service, celebration, achievement, falling down, faith, fun, lessons, blessings, friendship, collaboration, soul sharing and more,” Knight wrote, alongside a carousel of photos of herself through the years.

“I am so grateful to celebrate another amazing birthday. I am honored to live this wonderful life,” she continued. “Thank you for all your love, support, celebration, prayers, well wishes, warm thoughts every day in each year. I truly love you! 💜💜”

In the comments section, famous friends like Katie Couric wished the legendary singer a happy birthday.

“Gladys!!!!! Happy happy happy birthday to a true 👑 exemplary human being and amazing talent. Thank you for all you are and all you’ve given to the 🌎. ❤️❤️❤️,” Couric wrote.

Holly Robinson Peete also wrote, “Happy Birthday Sweet Gladys!! The World loves you!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️”

 

Gladys Knight performs during Questlove's "Summer Of Soul" screening & live concert at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on June 19, 2021 in New York City.

 

Gladys Knight in New York City in June 2021.Roy Rochlin/Getty

On May 23, Knight attended her friend Patti LaBelle’s 80th surprise birthday party in New York City. She shared a sweet photo from the event on Instagram.

“Last night was such an incredible evening of LOVE and CELEBRATION! Happy Birthday Patti!! Love You!!!!,” she wrote.

In a separate post, she recorded a video of LaBelle walking into the party.

“Happy Birthday to an ICON and my Sister @mspattilabelle !!! Your soul is unlike any other and I am honored to call you a friend and sister,” she wrote. “I love you! May this Birthday and the next and the next infinitely be filled with love and showering you with the celebration and adoration you deserve!”

In March, Knight was honored with a Nation Medal of Arts alongside Bruce Springsteen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus,  Mindy Kaling and Vera Wang by President Joe Biden. The medal is typically awarded to artists, singers, authors, humanitarians and others for their contribution to the arts.

“You do make the country better, you make it a better place,” Biden told the honorees at the ceremony, reported the Associated Press.