Alice Tan Ridley


Alice Tan Ridley was an American gospel 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, 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 in New York City subway stations, mainly at 34th Street–Herald Square (New [York City Subway)|Herald Square] in Midtown Manhattan. 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.
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 America's Got Talent. She auditioned with Etta James' hit song "At Last". She was praised by judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel 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. 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 Piers Morgan 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 Sharon Osbourne opted for Studio One, and ended Ridley's time on America's Got Talent.
Performances and results
WeekThemeSong choiceOriginal artistPerformance orderResult
AuditionNew York"At Last"Etta JamesN/ASafe
Vegas WeekFemale Singers"Proud Mary"Creedence Clearwater Revival2Safe
Top 48Quarterfinals"Midnight Train to Georgia"Gladys Knight2Safe
Top 24Semifinals"I Have Nothing"Whitney Houston1Eliminated
Judges' Choice