Alice Tan Ridley (December 21, 1952 – March 25, 2025) was an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

and R&B singer, the mother of actress Gabourey Sidibe, and sister of feminist and activist Dorothy Pitman Hughes. Ridley advanced to the semi-finals of the NBC television series ''

America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is an American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distributed by) and ...

'', after previously winning $25,000 in the pilot episode of '' 30 Seconds to Fame''. Ridley released her debut album ''Never Lost My Way'' at the age of 63 in September 2016.

Biography

Alice Ann Ridley, known affectionately as "Tan", was born and raised in Lumpkin, Georgia, one of nine children of Melton and Lessie Lee. Moving to New York, she married Ibnou Sidibe in 1980. She had two children with Ibnou: Ahmed and Gabourey Sidibe. The couple divorced in the early 1990s. For about 30 years, Ridley had been singing and

busking Street performance or busking is the act of performing in public places for gratuity, gratuities. In many countries, the rewards are generally in the form of money but other gratuities such as food, drink or gifts may be given. Street performa ...

in New York City subway stations, mainly at Herald Square in

Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan is the central portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan, serving as the city's primary central business district. Midtown is home to some of the city's most prominent buildings, including the Empire State Building, the ...

. She was a paid singer at Harlem's Cotton Club for many years, performing for "Brunch and Gospel". For six years, Ridley toured with a 7-piece band doing shows at performing arts centers across America. Her daughter Gabourey Sidibe starred in the 2009 hit film '' Precious'' and garnered critical acclaim. On October 6, 2012, Ridley performed, for the first time in her life, with a 65-piece symphony orchestra at Ohio Northern University in

Ada, Ohio Ada ( ) is a village in Hardin County, Ohio, United States, located about southwest of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 5,334. It is the home of Ohio Northern University. History Followi ...

. Ridley died in New York City on March 25, 2025, at the age of 72. She was buried at Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Louvale, Georgia on April 12, 2025.

''America's Got Talent''

Overview Ridley auditioned in New York for the fifth season of ''

.'' She auditioned with

Etta James Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter. Starting her career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's R&B clubs, collectively known as the Ch ...

' hit song " At Last". She was praised by judges

Piers Morgan Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan (; O'Meara, born 30 March 1965) is an English journalist and media personality. He began his career in 1988 at the tabloid ''The Sun (United Kingdom), The Sun''. In 1994, at the age of 29, he was appointed editor of ...

Sharon Osbourne Sharon Rachel Osbourne (; born 9 October 1952) is an English-American television personality, music manager, and author. She is married to heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and came to prominence while appearing on '' The Osbournes'' (2002–2 ...

, and

Howie Mandel Howard Michael Mandel (born November 29, 1955) is a Canadian comedian, television personality, actor, and producer. Mandel is known for voicing Gizmo in the 1984 film ''Gremlins'' and the 1990 sequel ''Gremlins 2: The New Batch'', playing rowd ...

and advanced to Vegas Week. There, she was selected to move on to the Top 48, alongside fellow singer Debra Romer. On July 20, Ridley performed " Midnight Train to Georgia" by

Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips, which included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins Will ...

. She received a standing ovation from the crowd and the judges, and was praised for her performance. She advanced to the semi-finals with AscenDance, Michael Grimm, and Antonio Restivo. Her semi-final performance of " I Have Nothing" was the first performance of the twelve of the night, with

calling it a great beginning for the show. When placed against Studio One Young Beast Society in the final moments of the results show the next night, both Piers Morgan and

opted for Studio One, and ended Ridley's time on ''America's Got Talent''. Performances and results

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ridley, Alice Tan 1952 births 2025 deaths America's Got Talent contestants American street performers American gospel singers Singers from New York City American contemporary R&B singers 21st-century African-American women singers 21st-century American women singers