‘America’s Got Talent’ Singer and Mother to Famed Actress Has Died

While helping her daughter, Gabourey Sidibe, pursue her dream as an actress, Alice Tan Ridley also sought to find her footing in the music industry. Spending years performing in the subways of New York City, she watched as Sidibe landed a role in the hit film Precious. Chasing her own dream, Ridley eventually auditioned for America’s Got Talent. Blowing the judges away, the singer made it through several rounds before leaving. Sadly, on March 25th, the singer passed away at 72 years old. 

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Posting an obituary about the legacy Ridley left behind, it read, “Tan was a pillar of the New York City singing circuit.  She sang at various venues to include the subway stations, primarily at Herald Square for over thirty years. She was a paid singer at The Harlem’s Cotton Club for many years. Tan was a regular singer with her family members in the New York subway station. Her brother Melton Lee Ridley Jr-affectionately called “Roger Ridley” was his little sister’s biggest fan!”

Alice Tan Ridley Shared Her Talents With The World

Besides entertaining people trying to make the subway, Ridley also found success when she competed at Showtime at the Apollo. The obituary continued, “She was featured in Comedian David Chapelle’s award-winning documentary, “Rize” (2005). Tan  was the winner on  the first episode of  30 Seconds to Fame (2002); Won an Emmy for her part in Military Families (2007); America’s Got Talent  top 12 contestants (season 5- 2010); Released her debut studio album, “ Never Lost My Way” (2016) and was featured in an article in the New York Times about her then- upcoming performance at the Highline  Ballroom in New York City and a day in the subway station with Tan.”

While on America’s Got Talent, Ridley received a mountain of praise from judges like Sharon Osbourne. After hearing her perform “At Last”, Osbourne was shocked that the singer spent years performing and nobody signed her. Making it through each round, the singer made it to the semifinals. In the end, Michael Grimm walked away as the winner of season 5. 

Always willing to share her talents with the world, Dvir Assouline, who helped manage Ridley, recalled her ability to draw people with her voice. He once told The Hollywood Reporter, “Whenever I saw her performing, there were always hundreds of people around her. She brought joy to so many people every day.”   

(Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)