Who came before William McDowell? First was James Newman, who Gladys Knight was married to from 1960 until 1973 (via Heavy). Like McDowell, Newman was a musician, but he became addicted to drugs and chose them over his wife and their children. Though they didn't divorce until 1973, Newman left Knight a few years into their relationship, requiring Knight to pause her career to raise her children. Newman died a few years after the divorce finalized.
Just one year after her divorce from Newman was finalized, Knight married music producer Barry Hankerson, who famously worked with Aaliyah. Their marriage lasted five years, from 1974-1979, but ended in a custody battle for the son, Shanga (via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). During Shanga's upbringing, Knight developed a gambling addiction, and, according to AJC, financial problems may have been the root cause of Knight and Hankerson's divorce.
Finally, after Hankerson, Knight married Les Brown, but only after time spent bettering herself. They married in 1995, but in 1997 the singer divorced her motivational speaker husband. On her marriages and general life trials, Knight told SFGate in 2012, "I know those challenges that come up from time to time in life are our little learning tools, our little steppingstones." She continued, "We need those obstacles in our life because I know one thing — I'm a much better person for them. And I ain't even mad at nobody."
It appears as though Gladys Knight remains an optimist through and through. Now, the singer is happily married and living her best life.
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