[Confucius]

Originally posted by jitterbug13
R&B legend Gladys Knight is the newest face of Ashley Stewart's "Great Woman of Style" campaign -- which kicks off this weekend in Harlem as part of a Mother’s Day celebration.

The campaign includes in-store and online marketing initiatives and a music project tie in.

Ashley Stewart’s Vice President and General Merchandise Manager Marla Minns couldn't stop singing the three-time Grammy Award winner's praises: "Gladys Knight is not only a musical icon; she is also a shrewd businesswoman, wonderful wife and loving mother.

"She fits our campaign perfectly, because she is a great woman of style in every aspect of her life."

The 15-year old popular fashion line -- for full-figured women-- will also offer specially packaged Gladys Knight CDs, a raffle contest and a $500 shopping spree, for the kick-off event.

For Knight, who turns 62 later this month, Mother's Day is a very special time of the year. She had the closest relationship to her late mother, Elizabeth Knight, who she said oversaw the financial aspects of her professional endeavors. In memory of her mom, she hosts an annual birthday concert which raises funds for the diabetes research charity, which is named The Elizabeth Knight Fund.

"She lived with that disease for over 50 years," Knight says. "She eventually went blind and she eventually lost a kidney but to live with that disease for that long a time, all the doctors said that’s unheard of. She lived to be 80. And she was diagnosed in her early 30s.

"So many people are unaware of this disease," Knight adds. "It’s in epidemic proportion and people don’t realize it. Everyone getting it, so now everyone wants to talk about it. It used to be relegated to the African-American community or third world…but now anyone can get it."

Knight also shares a similarly close relationship to her daughter Kenya Jackson, who now manages her business affairs. "That’s my girl, that’s my girl," Knight gleefully states. "We've been through thick and thin together. She came back and she’s been managing me ever since my mom and [son] Jimmy [Newman] passed away. We’ve just been going at it together."

'Before Me,' her new CD of classic jazz standards, which she describes as “a dream come true,” and executive produced by Tommy LiPuma, was originally due for release June 6 but is now expected October 10. "This postponement aligns the release of the CD more closely with a PBS concert special taping at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles in September, with special guests to be announced," said Verve Records publicist Jai St, Laurent. "The PBS program will air during the November/December pledge drives nationwide and will be followed by a national tour in January 2007."

I love and have so much respect for Gladys Knight.

But Gladys Knight??? Huh?