Alice Tan Ridley, the previous ‘America’s Obtained Expertise’ contestant and mother of Gabourey Sidibe, has handed away. In response to her obituary, Ridley died final month at age 72, although the reason for dying stays unrevealed.
Ridley wasn’t only a mother, although; she was a preferred subway singer in New York earlier than wowing judges along with her audition on ‘America’s Obtained Expertise.’ She additionally turned down a significant function within the film ‘Valuable’?
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Sidibe’s Mother Passes Away
Whereas particulars pertaining to Ridley’s dying stay unclear, in response to PEOPLE, the singer died on March 25 in New York Metropolis. Her funeral service will happen on Saturday, April 12, in Columbus, Georgia, in response to Legacy. Instantly after, there can be a burial at Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church in Louvre, Georgia.
Though she hasn’t talked about her mom’s passing on social media but, Sidibe overtly discusses her relationship along with her mother in previous interviews and her 2017 e book, This Is Simply My Face: Strive Not To Stare. She defined how the singer and her dad, Ibnou Sidibe, raised her and her brother Ahmed in New York after leaving Georgia within the ‘70s.
Ridley Turned Down Enjoying Her Daughter’s On-Display screen Mother In ‘Valuable’
Whereas Ridley was out right here hitting them excessive notes, she was additionally keen about educating youngsters as a instructor, a gig she held down for LIFE, in response to her daughter. Sidibe’s mama beloved instructing a lot that she declined to play her on-screen mother in 2009’s ‘Valuable’ when she was provided the function. Sure, the identical character Mo’Nique in the end portrayed. Why? As a result of despite the fact that it was a HUGE search for her, she wasn’t about to play a ruthless character. She didn’t need her college students to suppose that’s who she actually was.
“My mother’s at all times been a instructor,” Gabourey beforehand informed NPR about Ridley’s choice to show down the function. “She didn’t need any a type of youngsters that she helped to lift to suppose that that’s who she was.”
Now, Mo’Nique got here by means of, ate that function up, and took house the Finest Supporting Actress Oscar. However Sidibe is aware of her mama nonetheless paved the best way, oh-kay. Ridley was additionally the one who launched Sidibe to the e book ‘Push,’ which the award-winning movie relies on.
“I feel a part of why Lee preferred me was due to my connection to my mom,” the actress stated. “And in flip, a part of why America’s Obtained Expertise preferred my mother was her connection to me. I feel I used to be capable of give her one thing, and she or he was undoubtedly capable of give me one thing as nicely.”
Alice Tan Ridley who was the mom of Gabby Sidibe has handed away, she was 72 pic.twitter.com/hy4DpAtqrS
— ҒβΔ GΩDDΣSS✨ΔΠDRΣΔ (@FBAGoddess444) April 10, 2025
She Made It Far On ‘America’s Obtained Expertise’
After settling into her new life as a instructor in NYC, Ridley wasn’t simply clocking in on the classroom. She was additionally clocking cash on the subway platforms and singing to commuters within the Massive Apple as a facet hustle.
Her love for music ultimately led her to the ‘America’s Obtained Expertise’ stage in Season 5 again in 2010. And after years of blessing subway riders along with her vocals, she delivered a performance of Etta James’ ‘At Final,’ and the judges have been GAGGED. They despatched her straight to the Vegas Spherical with all “Sure” votes.
She powered by means of to the High 48 after a standout efficiency of ‘Proud Mary’ in Vegas, main her to safe a spot within the Semifinals.
For her ultimate efficiency within the semifinal spherical, Ridley sang Whitney Houston’s ‘I Have Nothing,’ which inspired Piers Morgan, who known as it a “nice starting.” She misplaced after he and Sharon Osbourne selected Studio One Younger Beast Society over her, ending her run simply earlier than the finals.
Could she relaxation in peace.
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