Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]

Gladys Knight performs at Fort Mose in St. Augustine Friday night, February 17, 2023. The 78 year-old Empress of Soul came to town to support efforts to make improvements at the Fort, the first settlement of free Black Americans in the country. Photo made February 17, 2023. [Fran Ruchalski for the Florida Times-Union]