Gladys Knight has returned to the AMAs stage 50 years on from her first performance

In 1974 Gladys Knight performed Midnight Train to Georgia at the first-ever American Music Awards show.

Now, 50 years later, the Empress of Soul has returned for a special 50th-anniversary encore performance of the same song she performed alongside The Pips.

The Empress of Soul performed her award-winning song while rocking a shimmering, black body suit.

"So grateful to help the @amas celebrate their 50th Anniversary with this Special," she wrote in an Instagram post before the show.

Watch a snippet of her performance below.

Gladys Knight & The Pips have won seven AMAs over the past 50 years. In 1975, the group picked up four awards including Favourite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group, Favourite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group, Favourite Soul/R&B Album for their 11th studio album Imagination and Favourite Soul/R&B Single for Midnight Train to Georgia.

They continued to win Favourite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group in 1976, 1984, and 1989. The song also won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1973. Before the show, she recalled her first experience working with her friend Dick Clark of Dick Clark Productions and said they grew together throughout the course of her iconic career.

- Written by iHeart.com and republished with edits and permission