Gladys Knight is back home after a recent health scare that led to her hospitalization. The seven-time Grammy winner has been seen leaning on her husband, William McDowell, as she continues her recovery.
A newly released image obtained by TMZ captured the emotional moment between Knight and McDowell, her husband of nearly 25 years. The photo shows the 80-year-old singer embracing McDowell, resting her face against his chest in a tender display of affection and relief.
Knight's hospitalization came after she became suddenly ill just moments before taking the stage at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on March 8, 2025. The unexpected turn of events forced the cancellation of her performance, leaving fans in shock.
Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin issued a statement that evening, explaining the situation to concertgoers.
"Tonight's performance by Gladys Knight was canceled due to illness. Ms. Knight and another member of her staff were taken ill backstage, very suddenly and at the last minute, which necessitated the sudden cancellation of the show," Saisselin said.
Emergency responders from Jacksonville Fire Rescue attended to the singer, and despite the abrupt nature of the incident, Knight remained in good spirits as she left the venue.
"We hope to reschedule the show, but it's too early to know about that. It is, after all, Saturday night. We should know more early next week," Saisselin stated.
He also reassured ticket holders that their purchases would remain valid if a new date was set.
"The Florida Theatre will always take care of you! But as I said, it's too soon to know any details for sure. We will be in touch early next week as soon as we have been able to talk to everyone we need to talk with to formulate a new plan," he added.
Despite the disappointment, Saisselin expressed gratitude to concertgoers for making the effort to attend, acknowledging the difficult traffic conditions in Jacksonville that night. He concluded his statement by urging fans to keep Knight in their thoughts.
Now back home, Knight appears to be prioritizing rest, with McDowell by her side providing support. Fans have taken to social media to send their well wishes, expressing hope for a full and swift recovery.
While many expressed relief over Knight's recovery, some social media followers were surprised by McDowell's youthful appearance.
On Instagram, one person wrote, "Husband 😮… I thought that was her son 🧐 Sheesh 😮💨 Get well soon Queen 🙏🏾 [sic]."
Another questioned, "How old is that husband? 🤔" while a different netizen stated, "I don't think that's her husband." Someone else simply commented, "Husband looks young [sic]..."
Similar reactions appeared on Facebook. One commenter noted, "husband looks more like son [sic]," while another asked, "Is that her grandson?" However, one person shared a more supportive message, saying, "I'm so glad she has him."
On X, users kept their reactions brief and positive. One person wrote, "that's amazing [sic]," while another encouraged, "Get some rest, sweet lady."
Though further details about Knight's condition have not been disclosed, the singer's emotional reunion with her husband signals a positive step forward in her recovery journey. Fans continue to send their support as Knight takes time to heal.
