Most 65-year-olds are not working full-time.

But Gladys Knight, who’s been working since 1952, has not lost a step after almost six decades in show business.

Two weeks ago I ran into her at Quincy Jones’ “We Are the World” taping in Los Angeles. Gladys is front-and-center with Jennifer Hudson, Mya, Usher, Lil Wayne, and dozens of other younger stars. Will their careers last as long? For most, it’s unlikely.

On Friday night, by coincidence, I caught Gladys’ act at the Naples Philharmonic Hall in Florida. She came by bus from Atlanta with her band and her brother Bubba, the last remaining “Pip” and her best friend. She’s in the middle of doing six dates down South. As usual, the venue was sold out.

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The new version of “We Are the World” went up on iTunes last night, and you can see it everywhere at 2 p.m. Saturday. Get all the info at www.world25.org.

Justin Bieber opens the song, but is followed in quick succession by Jennifer Hudson – who just about steals the whole recording. Quickly we see and hear Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, and of course Barbra Streisand.

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Tonight everyone will get to hear the new edition of “We Are the World,” 25 years after Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and Quincy Jones made history.

It’s an ironic moment for Michael Jackson, whose alleged murderer was arraigned this week. It’s ironic especially since it features Celine Dion.

Dion was one of the singers whom Jackson enlisted in October 2001 for his “What More Can I Give” single. With a panoply of stars, Jackson tried to re-create the “We Are The World” vibe for the people who’d been affected by Sept. 11.

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Less than 48 hours before “We Are the World 25″ premieres on the Olympics, I can tell you that the finished version has a duet of sorts with Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.

It comes at the midpoint of the Quincy Jones produced record. Just like in the original version from 1985, Michael sings the bridge, with Janet joining in. The vocal and the video of Michael are taken from the original version of the record. On the new video, Michael’s image pops up from the old video, followed by Janet’s from the new one.

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Life in a fishbowl: Rock stars brave the heat for "We Are the World 25"

Here are just a few photos taken by Martin Aiono during the taping on Monday of “We Are the World” 25th anniversary for Haiti.

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Who was missing from “We Are the World”? Lady Gaga.

“They literally begged her to come,” a source told me yesterday. “She turned them down. She didn’t get it.”

Jay Z and Beyonce had no excuses. They were in town. So was Alicia Keys, who spent the weekend with boyfriend Swizz Beatz at the home of Paradigm Talent Agency chief Sam Gores and his wife, former soap star Jensen Buchanan. Alicia may have felt spread too thin between the Haiti telethon and her own Keep a Child Alive charity.

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Barbra Streisand was the last to arrive at Henson Studios on Monday afternoon. She went directly to see producer Quincy Jones, who was in the control room of Studio A. Out in the actual studio there were 80 famous musicians.

“Is there room for another person?” Streisand asked Jones. He laughed. “I’ve known you since you were 16!” he declared. Later, Streisand, realizing that director Paul Haggis was filming live in 3D, laughed and asked, “How will my nose look in 3D?”

The answer was: great. But the real highlight of an amazing five hour recording session was Streisand’s solos. Her lines in the Lionel Richie -Michael Jackson song: “There’s a choice we’re making/We’re saving our own lives” and “It’s true we make a brighter day/So let’s start living.”

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Barbra Streisand, Wyclef Jean, Celine Dion, Usher, Natalie Cole, Keith Urban and 75 more stars are right now recording a new version of “We are the World” to raise money for Haiti relief.

Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and producer RedOne are conducting the proceedings, with Patti Austin organizing vocals. Jennifer Hudson, Pink, Carlos Santana, Rob Thomas, the Jonas Brothers and even Miley Cyrus are participating. The extraordinary event is being filmed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis at Henson Studios in Hollywood.

More to come…

Oscar winning writer-director Paul Haggis (”Crash,” “Million Dollar Baby”) is tentatively signed to film Quincy Jones’ 25th anniversary edition of “We Are the World.”

I told you last week that Jones and Lionel Richie were hoping to pull this effort off on Feb. 1 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. The plan is still moving forward, although there’s an outside chance of a change of date due to a scheduling conflicts with the dozens of artists who want to participate.

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EXCLUSIVE: This column has learned that Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are planning a massive 25th anniversary re-recording of “We Are the World.”

The timing couldn’t be better, sadly enough.

The duo is summoning lots and lots of talent from Grammy weekend to stay an extra night — Monday Feb. 1 — and come to the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. There, they will celebrate a quarter century since Ken Kragen, Richie and Michael Jackson organized the original “We Are the World” with Quincy.

This time the artists invited include Usher, Natalie Cole, and John Legend. But you can bet that more names will be added shortly and that all the Grammy nominees and participants will be asked to come as well. Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the event, which will then be turned into a video and single just like it was in 1985. Don’t be surprised if Wyclef Jean joins in, along with Sting, Fergie, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and other distinctive voices.

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