It's been almost six decades since Gladys Knight, the little girl from Atlanta who could sing any adult under the table, took the stage. Then she showed the world what she and her Pips had to offer.

At 64 years old, one of the original queens of soul is still flaunting what she's got (and she's got it) to audiences worldwide.

Knight performs tonight at the second annual Hawaii Romance Festival.

On the phone from her home in Las Vegas, we caught up with the singer for a quick chat between concerts, political fundraisers, cross-country bus rides and a flight to Honolulu.

Q. You're a really busy woman!

A. Oh, I am! But you know what? I don't have one single complaint. ... Every time I get ready to settle down, things just come in like never before. So I'll keep doing it until the spirit in me says I'm done. And I've been doing this for 59 years! Can you believe it?

Q. In your many years in the business, what do you consider to be the best and the worst of it?

A. You know, I try not to think about it! (Laughs.)

For one thing, it's an ever-changing industry and I like that about it. You get a chance to tap into your talents and give it a go. You can write, you can produce, you can create. But there's a dark side — it's always been there but it's more prevalent now.

I was asked the other night what I thought about that (Miley Cyrus) photo. I just point-blank said that we're so afraid of offending people, that we lose our directive power.

There's no reason for this 15-year-old girl to be viewed like that. We are not fighting to keep them young. They'll come into enough crash-bang-thank-you-ma'am after awhile without giving it up so soon.

And I tell you, we were not perfect either, but I believe that our values were so different that we were able to withstand it better.

Q. "Midnight Train to Georgia" is one of those classic songs that everyone tries to sing. Have you heard a version, besides yours, that you just love?

A. No! (Laughs.) There was never another hit with that song that I know of. With "Midnight Train" we had finally found something that was our signature, because after we did "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," Marvin (Gaye) did it the next year and wiped out our identity! I told him, "You know I love you man, but next time you do that I'm whacking you!"

Q. You've collaborated with so many amazing singers and musicians. Is there someone you'd like to sing with that you haven't yet?

A. I'm going to call up Nelly and see if he wants to remake "Midnight Train to Georgia" with me!