With no PIPS to back her up GLADYS KNIGHT battling age-ism and her own family as she hopes DWTS will whip her into shape!
Gladys joined the cast of this season’s “Dancing with the Stars” in a desperate bid to reclaim what’s left of her youth, but those close to her are terrified the strenuous rehearsals might kill the Motown legend!
“Gladys’ family begged her not to go on ‘DWTS,’ ” a source close to the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer told The ENQUIRER.
“They think she’s too old to put her body through that much stress. But Gladys shot back, ‘I’m not too old to do anything! Just be sitting in the front row when the show starts, and I’ll show you all just how wrong you are!’ ”
According to another insider, the 67-year-old seven-time Grammy winner is hoping that “DWTS” will help her stall the aging process.
“Gladys’ career has been slowing down, but she’s not ready to let go of her youth,” noted the insider.
Her husband, William McDowell, is 14 years her junior, and Gladys “desperately wants to believe she can still be attractive to him,” continued the insider.
“She hopes that ‘DWTS’ will whip her back into shape.”
Knight qwho dominated the recoprd charts with her group, group, Gladys Knight & The Pips, during the ’60s and ’70s, believes that if she’s able to lose a few pounds and get healthier, she might even be able to stave off the onset of hereditary diabetes.
Her mother, Elizabeth, died in 1997 from complications from the disease.
“Gladys told her family, ‘I don’t care if I win – but I’m going to DO this! I’m a survivor!’ ” said the source. “Her friends and family are praying that she’s right.”
