Alice Tan Ridley
| Alice Tan Ridley | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Goddess of Soul |
| Born | December 21, 1952 Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | Gospel, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 2009–present |
Alice Tan Ridley (born December 21, 1952) is a gospel and R&B singer and the mother of actress Gabourey Sidibe. Alice 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.[1]
Contents
Life
Ridley was born in Georgia.[2] Alice raised her two children, Ahmed and Gabourey, in Harlem. For about 20 years, Alice could be found singing and busking in New York City subway stations. Presently, Alice tours with a 7-piece band doing shows at performing arts centers across America. Alice's daughter, Gabourey Sidibe, starred in the 2009 hit film Precious, and garnered critical acclaim.
On October 6, 2012, Alice performed, for the first time in her life, with a 65-piece symphony orchestra at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.[3]
America's Got Talent
Overview
Alice auditioned in New York for the fifth season of America's Got Talent.[4] She auditioned with Etta James' hit song "At Last". She was praised by all three judges and advanced to Vegas Week. There, she was selected to move on to the Top 48, alongside fellow singer Debra Romer. On July 20, Alice 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.[citation needed] 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.[5] 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 effectively ended Ridley's time on America's Got Talent.
Performances and results
| Week | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Performance order | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | New York | "At Last" | Etta James | N/A | Safe |
| Vegas Week | Female Singers | "Proud Mary" | Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | Safe |
| Top 48 | Quarterfinals | "Midnight Train to Georgia" | Gladys Knight | 2 | Safe |
| Top 24 | Semifinals | "I Have Nothing" | Whitney Houston | 1 | Eliminated Judges' Choice |
References
- ↑ TV.com
- ↑ http://alicetanridley.com/the-story/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Gina DiNunno, "Gabourey Sidibe's Mom Wows America's Got Talent Judges with Singing Skills", TV Guide, June 16, 2010.
- ↑ Andrea Reiher, "Jackie Evancho, Fighting Gravity best of weak 'America's Got Talent' semi-final", Zap2It, August 31, 2010.
External links
- Articles with hCards
- Articles with unsourced statements from March 2011
- 1952 births
- America's Got Talent contestants
- Living people
- 21st-century American singers
- American buskers
- African-American singers
- American gospel singers
- Singers from New York City
- American rhythm and blues singers
- American female singers
