GLADYS KNIGHT - KNIGHT TO RECEIVE ELLA AWARD

Soul singer GLADYS KNIGHT will receive the 16th annual Ella Award from America's Society of Singers in September (07). The Midnight Train To Georgia star, 62, will accept the honour, named after jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald, at a ceremony in Los Angeles. Knight enthuses, "It is a truly awesome feeling to be receiving this honour. Ella was the sweetest and most beautiful person as a talent and as a human being." Previous recipients include Sir Elton John, Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion.