Alice Tan Ridley, the beloved powerhouse vocalist known for her unforgettable performances on America’s Got Talent and as the mother of Precious star Gabourey Sidibe, has passed away. She was 72.
Ridley’s death was confirmed by her relatives in an obituary published by Sconiers Funeral Home in Columbus, Ga. A cause of death was not revealed publicly as of Thursday (April 10) afternoon, the New York Post reports.
Ridley, born on dec. 21, 1952, graduated from the Stewart County High School in 1969 before she obtained her teaching license from the New York State Board of Education.
Ridley worked as a teacher in New York City and was said to be a “pillar of the New York City singing circuit,” singing in subway stations for tips before later landing a paid gig at Harlem’s Cotton Club. The singer then won $25,000 on the pilot of FOX‘s 30 Seconds to Fame and later appeared on Showtime at the Apollo.
Ridley later performed ‘Amazing Grace’ in David LaChapelle’s 2005 documentary Rize and ‘America the Beautiful’ in the 2005 film Heights, as well as winning an Emmy for her part in the 2007 documentary Military Families, before competing on America’s Got Talent, finishing as a semi-finalist, in 2010.
In 2018 she began to suffer from dementia — which prompted her to hit the brakes on her career and subsequently retire, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Ridley is survived by her two children, grandchildren, her two brothers, two sisters, and other relatives.