Gladys Knight recently released a Gospel album, Where My Heart Belongs and during a recent interview, she discussed her longevity and the current status of the music industry. 

The "Empress of Soul" rose to fame during the early 1970's as the front-woman for the Motown sensation Gladys Knight and the Pips and she says the industry was a different playing field. While talking with TheGrio, Knight gave her opinion on artists attempting to break into the music business today. 

"I don't envy them, coming through the industry at this time, because it's a totally different industry. It is money-driven. It is power-driven. They would do anything to get famous," Knight said. "We came through with a moral value, an integrity value, and a great love for what we were doing. So it helped us to do the things that we needed to do to be better. We didn't have to be on the cover of every magazine, we didn't have to be doing something dramatic just to get some attention. We let our talents speak for that." 

She said current R&B stars including Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keys are "doing the best that they can," but Knight says she needs female entertainers as a whole to "stand up" and do better. 

"They're doing the best that they can.... You have to look at the fame and fortune that they have.... As long as they mix in the great talent portion of it, then that's the road they have to take in the industry these days," Knight said. "But how far will you go with that? That's what saddens my heart. We were taught to dress respectfully for our audiences ... did you hear me say dress? Not take it off, put it on. I'm just disappointed with all of that. But there's a way to present your gift.... If you're a singer, make sure you do that. I want my women to stand up."

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