Gladys Knight

Singer, Songwriter
2021 National Medal of Arts Recipient
Older white male in blue suit posing with Black woman in pink outfit in front of flags and gold curtain.

Gladys Knight accepting the National Medal of Arts from President Joe Biden. Photo by Cheriss May

Bio

For her iconic voice as the Empress of Soul. Gladys Knight’s exceptional talent influenced musical genres—from rhythm and blues to gospel to pop—and inspired generations of artists, captivated by her soundtrack of a golden age in American music.