Gladys Knight | 05/28/1944 | 77

Gladys Knight gets credits for being the Empress of Soul. She is one of the most iconic singers in the industry who has ventured into other fields in the business. The hitmaker is a songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and author. Who could forget the hits Midnight Train to Georgia, That’s What Friends, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, and more? She had dominated the airwaves from the ’60s to ’80, along with her group Gladys Knight & The Pips.

As a seven-time Grammy award-winner, Knight has recorded two number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles, 11 number-one R&B singles, and six number-one R&B albums. What a feat? The induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Vocal Group of Fame ranked among the 100 Singers of All Time. Knight already made her farewell tour in 2009. However, despite that, she started touring again and even playing gigs. By the look of it, fans may still hear more of Knight’s incredible voice.