Alice Tan RidleyThe mother of the American actress Gabourey Sidibedied. According to a Betrology published by the family, she died on March 25, 2025, at the age of 72.

Ridley was not only known as the mother of the Hollywood icon; She was a powerful vocal, a former teacher and a known figure on the New York City Subway music scene.

To honor the late singer, here are five notable things about Ridley.

Alice Tan Ridley filled classrooms before her voice filled with metro stations and television screens.

She was born in Georgia on December 21, 1952 and was the seventh of the eight children.

Ridley moved to New York and obtained his teaching license at the New York State Board of Education.

There, she worked as a special education teacher in Brooklyn, where she poured her heart to help disabled children.

Long before the world recognized his voice, Ridley’s students knew her as someone who believed in their potential, and that speaks volumes about the kind of person she was.

Ridley has not played in fantasy concert halls for over 30 years.

His scene was on metro platforms in New York.

She was famous for sanging at Herald Square station, where passers -by would stop to hear her belt towards moving versions of classics like “I always love you” and “My heart will continue”.

Ridley’s voice did not need a projector to shine.

She created hers while jostling underground in the city.

His performances were often recorded by foreigners and shared online, who quickly turned it into a local legend before going to national television.

Alice Tan Ridley finally acquired a national renown in 2010 when she auditioned for season 5 of “America’s Got Talent”.

She went on stage and burst everyone with her breathtaking performance of “At Last” by Etta James.

The judges were visibly amazed, judge Piers Morgan saying: “Alice is simply brilliant.”

With her talent and support for fans at home, Alice arrived at the semi-finals, capturing Hearts Nationwide.

However, it was not his only television moment. In 2002, she won $ 25,000 over “30 seconds to glory” and even played on “Showtime at the Apollo”.

Ridley appeared on television screens in 2005, interpreting “Amazing Grace” in David Lachapelle’s documentary “Rize” and “America the Beautiful” in the 2005 “Heights” film. Two years later, she won an Emmy for her role in the 2007 documentary “families of the military”.

Although he was later discovered in life, Ridley’s talent was undeniable and continued to shine every time she arrived at the scene.

Most of the artists hope to release an album in their twenties or thirty, but Alice did it at 63.

In 2016, she released “Never Lost My Way”, a collection of cover songs and originals that reflected the journey of her life, struggles and victories.

Alice Tan Ridley’s album was a beautiful testimony to her trip, full of emotion and truth.

The title of the album was perfect for her experience, because she always found her way towards her goal.