Alice Tan Ridley, the previous ‘America’s Acquired Expertise’ contestant and mother of Gabourey Sidibe, has handed away. In accordance with 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 Acquired Expertise.’ She additionally turned down a serious function within the film ‘Treasured’?
RELATED: Clock It! Gabourey Sidibe Addresses Her Husband Clapping Back At Her Internet Trolls (VIDEO)
Sidibe’s Mother Passes Away
Whereas particulars pertaining to Ridley’s dying stay unclear, in accordance with PEOPLE, the singer died on March 25 in New York Metropolis. Her funeral service will happen on Saturday, April 12, in Columbus, Georgia, in accordance with 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 Taking part in Her Daughter’s On-Display Mother In ‘Treasured’
Whereas Ridley was out right here hitting them excessive notes, she was additionally captivated with educating kids as a trainer, a gig she held down for LIFE, in accordance with her daughter. Sidibe’s mama beloved instructing a lot that she declined to play her on-screen mother in 2009’s ‘Treasured’ when she was supplied the function. Sure, the identical character Mo’Nique in the end portrayed. Why? As a result of though 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 all the time been a trainer,” Gabourey beforehand informed NPR about Ridley’s resolution to show down the function. “She didn’t need any a kind of children that she helped to lift to suppose that that’s who she was.”
Now, Mo’Nique got here via, ate that function up, and took residence the Greatest Supporting Actress Oscar. However Sidibe is aware of her mama nonetheless paved the way in which, oh-kay. Ridley was additionally the one who launched Sidibe to the e-book ‘Push,’ which the award-winning movie relies on.
“I believe a part of why Lee favored me was due to my connection to my mom,” the actress mentioned. “And in flip, a part of why America’s Acquired Expertise favored my mother was her connection to me. I believe I used to be capable of give her one thing, and he or she was undoubtedly capable of give me one thing as effectively.”
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 Acquired Expertise’
After settling into her new life as a trainer 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 finally led her to the ‘America’s Acquired 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 via to the High 48 after a standout efficiency of ‘Proud Mary’ in Vegas, main her to safe a spot within the Semifinals.
For her remaining efficiency within the semifinal spherical, Ridley sang Whitney Houston’s ‘I Have Nothing,’ which galvanized Piers Morgan, who referred to 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.
Might she relaxation in peace.
RELATED: Love To See It! Gabourey Sidibe’s Husband Has Been Praising Her For Their Twins Nonstop (Photos)
What Do You Suppose Roomies?
