#willsmith #jadapinkett #jadapinkettsmith #chrisrock #jadensmith American fans burst into tears after hearing sad news about “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the “Empress of Soul”, is an American singer and actress. A seven-time Grammy Award-winner,[3] Knight is known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her group The Pips, which also included her brother Merald “Bubba” Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten.