Alice Tan Ridley, mom of Valuable actress Gabourey Sidibe, has died on the age of 72. Earlier than making it huge on America’s Acquired Expertise, Ridley entertained New York subway riders for 3 a long time.
Ridley died on March 25, 2025, in New York, in response to her obituary. No reason behind dying was given. Nevertheless, Ridley was reportedly recognized with dementia in 2018, in response to The Hollywood Reporter, so which will have been an element. She was born in Georgia on December 21, 1952, and was the seventh of eight kids.
Earlier than turning into a jazz and gospel singer, Ridley acquired her educating license from the New York State Board of Training and had two kids, considered one of them being Sidibe, in addition to son Ahmed, after marrying Ibnou Sidibe in 1980. When she misplaced her job educating particular wants kids in Brooklyn and acquired divorced, Ridley resorted to singing within the subways to earn any cash she might. Her obituary acknowledged that she and Ibnou remained shut after the divorce.
In 2002, she received $25,000 on the primary episode of 30 Seconds to Fame and was a singer at Harlem’s Cotton Membership for a few years. Nevertheless, Ridley didn’t make it huge till she auditioned for AGT in 2010. She was seen by an Israeli pupil, Dvir Assouline, within the subway, and he satisfied her to audition. He additionally turned her supervisor that 12 months.
She carried out “At Final” by Etta James, and her highly effective voice resonated with the judges. Ridley made all of it the best way to the semi-finals earlier than being voted off. After AGT, Ridley and her seven-person band carried out everywhere in the world.
Six years later, on the age of 63, the singer launched her debut album, By no means Misplaced My Means, which was a set of covers of her favourite songs and a few originals, together with songs about her kids coping with dishonest lovers. She continued performing all through her 60s till her dementia prognosis.
Regardless of making it huge on AGT, Ridley instructed The New York Occasions that she went again to singing within the subways in 2014 as a result of she “missed it.”
Gabourey has not spoken out publicly about her mother’s dying.