Gladys Knight sings ‘Happy Birthday’ during traffic stop

SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah police officer who pulled over a car carrying iconic soul singer Gladys Knight was treated to an impromptu rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

Knight was a passenger in the car stopped for speeding Wednesday night in the town about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, Pleasant Grove Police Capt. Mike Roberts said.

Officer Paul Rogerson got the driver’s license and was checking it in his patrol car when the woman told him that she was with Knight on the way to a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints choir event.

The seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer of “Midnight Train to Georgia” is a Mormon convert, and she was speaking at the event. Rogerson said that he and his wife, who was riding along in the car because it was his birthday, were big fans.

When she heard that, Knight got out of the car too and sang the officer “Happy Birthday.”

The couple snapped a photo with her, and Rogerson’s wife has since exchanged text messages with the singer.

The officer let the driver go with a warning, something he likely would have done even if Knight wasn’t in the car, Roberts said.

Jeanteil Livingston, a spokeswoman for Knight, said the singer lives in Las Vegas but was in Utah for the choir rehearsal.