Alice Tan Ridley
| Alice Tan Ridley | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 21, 1952 Georgia,[1] 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. She auditioned on the NBC series America's Got Talent. Prior to joining America's Got Talent, Alice also appeared in the television show 30 Seconds To Fame, winning $25,000 in the pilot episode.[2]
Life
Ridley was born in Georgia.[3] Alice raised her two children, Ahmed and Gabourey, in Harlem. For about 20 years, she could be found singing and busking in the 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 great critical acclaim.
On October 6, 2012, she performed, for the first time in her life, with a 65-piece symphony orchestra at Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH.[4]
America's Got Talent
Overview
Alice auditioned in New York for the fifth season of America's Got Talent.[5] She auditioned with Etta James' hit song "At Last". She was praised by all three judges and advanced to Vegas Week. Her daughter, Gabourey Sidibe, later stated that she was "very proud of her."[6] In Vegas Week, 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 had advanced to the semi-finals, advancing with AscenDance, Michael Grimm, and Antonio Restivo. Her semifinal 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.[7] When placed against Studio One Young Beast Society in the final moments of the results show the next night, both Sharon and Piers 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" | Cissy Houston | 2 | Safe |
| Top 24 | Semifinals | "I Have Nothing" | Whitney Houston | 1 | Eliminated Judges' Choice |
References
- ↑ http://alicetanridley.com/the-story/
- ↑ TV.com
- ↑ http://alicetanridley.com/the-story/
- ↑ "ONU presents Alice Tan Ridley".
- ↑ Gina DiNunno, "Gabourey Sidibe's Mom Wows America's Got Talent Judges with Singing Skills", TV Guide, June 16, 2010.
- ↑ Gabourey Sidibe: I'm "Proud" of My Mom's Performance, US Weekly, June 28, 2010.
- ↑ Andrea Reiher, "Jackie Evancho, Fighting Gravity best of weak 'America's Got Talent' semi-final", Zap2It, August 31, 2010.
External links
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