Gladys Knight and her husband, William McDowell, have been married for over two decades. The "Midnight Train to Georgia" singer wed McDowell in 2001 in a private ceremony in California. Since then, the couple have supported each other at various events, celebrated anniversaries and spoken about how they've made their marriage work. "You have to always know that the Lord is going to make a way," Knight told Closer in November 2022, when asked the secret to their marriage. "We put him first. If you’ve got a problem and don’t know how to do something, you have to look up. That’s how we get through." McDowell is a former consultant who has collaborated with Knight on her music and supported her career on the road. Prior to McDowell, Knight was married to James "Jimmy" Newman from 1960 to 1973, Barry Hankerson from 1974 to 1979, and Les Brown from 1995 to 1997. The Empress of Soul is a mother to three children from her past marriages: sons James "Jimmy" Gaston Newman III and Shanga Ali Hankerson, and daughter Kenya Maria Newman. (James died from heart failure in 1999, per the Las Vegas Sun.) Most recently, Knight spoke out in her husband's defense after Shanga accused McDowell of "mental and financial" abuse that was causing "detrimental" harm to her health with her busy music schedule. So, who is Gladys Knight's husband? Here's everything to know about William McDowell and his relationship with the soul singer. He’s a former consultant and author McDowell was raised outside of Asheville, N.C., in a town called Canton, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. He later worked as a corporate consultant before meeting and marrying Knight. In addition to his consulting career, McDowell is a published author who co-wrote the 2021 book, The One: How to Grow and Thrive as a One While Feeding Your Soul and Impacting Others. McDowell wrote the book to help people fulfill their role as a "designated leader" who can "dominate every area of your life." "William McDowell was born in North Carolina and spent his childhood and adult life asking, 'Why?' He has studied many world religions, leading him to focus fully on never judging anyone for their personal choices and believes that life is temporary, but judgment can have permanent repercussions," he wrote in his author's bio. McDowell and Knight write music together McDowell took an interest in music after he started seeing Knight, and he has worked with her on music, as well as songs of his own. In the early aughts, McDowell and Knight collaborated on the song "This is Our Time," which she sang at the 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies in Salt Lake City. The song was also featured on the commemorative album, Light Up the Land: 2002 Olympic Winter Games. In addition to working with Knight, he has created his own music. He released the album Bending of Trees in 2011 and Perfect Vision 2020 in 2021. During the pandemic, Knight and McDowell worked together to shoot the music video for his song "Country Water," which was released in that same year. They married in 2001 Knight and McDowell wed in an intimate ceremony in Santa Monica, Calif., in April 2001. The couple got married after three months of dating, but they had met 10 years prior, according to Biography. They celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in April 2024, and McDowell posted a collage video of them over the years to celebrate. "It’s Our 23 anniversary," he captioned the post. "This train just keeps moving. Sticking it out and growing spiritually . This ain’t easy but with Gods help.23 is in the books." Knight and McDowell went on to move to Fairview, N.C., and have become local figures there by launching the Reynolds High School Foundation that is dedicated to renovating the former high school into a community center in Canton, N.C. "I know this is where we are supposed to be," Knight said in March 2017, per the Citizen Times. "Little things like that give you the inspiration to go on to do other things that you never knew you could. That's what this school is all about." McDowell supports Knight at her events Since marrying in 2001, McDowell and Knight have stepped out for several events together, and McDowell has been by Knight's side to celebrate her many achievements. Just one month after walking down the aisle, the newlyweds smiled for photos while attending a gathering at the Wilshire Theater in Los Angeles in May 2001. Over the years, McDowell has supported Knight at the American Music Awards, Clive Davis' annual Pre-Grammy galas, the Soul Train Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the Billboard Music Awards and the BET Awards, among others. In December 2022, McDowell stood by Knight as she was honored at the 45th Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. McDowell is a stepfather to Knight’s children Before marrying McDowell in 2001, Knight welcomed three children from previous relationships. She became a mother during her first marriage to Newman when they welcomed son Jimmy in 1962 and later daughter Kenya in 1963. For much of his life, Jimmy managed his mom's career through his company, Newman Management, and helped her launch her record label, Many Roads. On July 10, 1999, Jimmy died from heart failure at his home in Las Vegas, according to Variety. He was 36. After her divorce from Newman in 1973, she married Hankerson the following year, and they welcomed son Shanga in 1976. "When I’m home, I have a houseful of kids. And they’re all over William, my husband," she told Closer, referring to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "He is all about the kids, and they just love him to death. They love him the best! And he’ll do anything to keep them on the right track." Knight’s son Shanga accused McDowell of “mental and financial” abuse in August 2025 On Aug. 15, Knight assured fans that she was "healthy and happy" after Shanga accused McDowell of "mental and financial" abuse toward his mother. Knight, who had been embarking on The Queens Tour with Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills over the spring and fall of 2025, told PEOPLE in a statement that she's been enjoying her time on the road and was "excited" to continue touring in the last half of the year. "I'm sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented. I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?” she said. “I'm healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I'm excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon.” Knight shared the statement after Shanga expressed concern over his mother's hectic schedule and claimed to have filed a complaint with the Department of Human Services in North Carolina in August 2025. Shanga alleged in an interview to PEOPLE that her touring schedule is "detrimental" to her health and is a result of McDowell encouraging her to continue being on the road. Shanga claimed that Knight has been "on cruise control" and struggling with her memory. “I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom’s best interest, and he has not done that," he alleged. "Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she’s being made to believe that she has to work like this? That’s really my issue with it." Knight's publicist, Laura Herlovich, told PEOPLE that Knight is "greatly saddened by Shanga’s unfounded allegations" and alleged that he "has had no substantial contact with her." Herlovich also said Knight's attorneys are exploring "any and all legal remedies due to Shanga's defamatory comments." However, Shanga is also ready to "absolutely" take legal action against McDowell and fight "to make sure I can really take care of” Knight. “This has nothing to do with money for me,” he said. “I’m trying to get her to stop working.”