The talented Alice Tan Ridley, who performed on America's Got Talent, has passed away at 72 years old. She's the mother of 42-year-old actress Gabourey Sidibe, and she previously serenaded passersby in New York City subways.
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'America's Got Talent' Singer Alice Tan Ridley Passes Away
An obituary confirmed that the singer died on March 25 in New York City. Although her award-winning daughter was nominated for her debut role in 2009's Precious, Ridley garnered fame on the talent show's fifth season in 2010.
She had a powerful R&B and gospel voice and instantly captured the judges' attention during her audition. Ridley performed a cover of At Last by Etta James, garnering praise from the cheering crowd.
Sharon Osbourne asked, "How come nobody signed you?" When she brought up her days singing in the subway. Howie Mandel also mentioned how much he adored her voice, calling her "wonderful." Even the typically not-so-impressed Piers Morgan called it the "best audition of the day."
Although Ridley made it as far as the semi-finals, her final performance was I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston. Her time on America's Got Talent came to an end when pitted against Studio One Young Beast Society.
Ridley's obituary mentioned how she grew up in a big family as one of eight siblings. She eventually turned to education for her career after high school and taught at PS 134 after receiving her license. The singer then married Ibnou Sidibe in 1980 and had two children. Although the two divorced, "they remained cordial and Ibnou still attended the Ridley family functions."
It also praised Ridley for being a "pillar of the New York City singing circuit." For over 30 years, she'd sing across subway stations, primarily at Herald Square. Besides her America's Got Talent appearance, Ridley received much recognition for her musical talents. She competed at Showtime at the Apollo in 2005, and she appeared in comedian Dave Chapelle's documentary "Rize" in the same year.
In 2002, Ridley won the first episode of 30 Seconds to Fame and earned an Emmy for her performance in 2007's Military Families. She eventually released her first studio album Never Lost My Way in 2016.
Ridley is survived by her son, Ahmed Sidibe, her daughter Gabourey Sidibe, alongside her two brothers, two sisters, twin grandchildren, and many other relatives.
