Celebrated Gospel Singer Alice Tan Ridley Dies at 72

NEW YORK, April 9, 2025 — Alice Tan Ridley, a beloved gospel and R&B singer who captivated subway riders in New York City for over three decades, passed away on March 25 at the age of 72. Her family confirmed the news this week, although the cause of death has not been disclosed.

Born Alice Ann Ridley on December 21, 1952, in Charles Junction, Georgia, Ridley spent her formative years surrounded by music. As the seventh of eight children, she was influenced by jazz and gospel artists throughout her childhood.

Ridley graduated from Stewart County High School in 1969 and relocated to New York City in 1971. There, she earned her teaching license from the New York State Board of Education and began her career as a special-education teacher at P.S. 134 in Brooklyn’s Kensington neighborhood. After losing her job and going through a divorce, she turned to busking in the subway, singing primarily at the Herald Square station.

“I was a big secret,” Ridley reflected in a 2016 New York Times profile. “With so many people passing by, I wondered, ‘Why doesn’t somebody introduce me to someone who could help me out?’”

Ridley’s break into the spotlight began with her win on the 2002 pilot episode of Fox’s “30 Seconds to Fame,” where she took home a $25,000 prize. She achieved further acclaim as a contestant on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in 2010, where her performance of the classic “At Last” resonated deeply with both the judges and the audience. Ridley’s talent brought her to the semifinals.

Throughout her career, she performed at renowned venues, including Harlem’s Cotton Club, and contributed her voice to several films, including the documentary “Rize” and the feature “Heights.” In 2016, at age 63, Ridley released her debut album, “Never Lost My Way,” showcasing her original songs and covers that addressed personal themes of love and family.

Dvir Assouline, an Israeli student who discovered Ridley in the subway, became her manager in 2010. “Whenever I saw her performing, there were always hundreds of people around her,” Assouline told The Hollywood Reporter. “She brought joy to so many people every day.”

Ridley continued to tour and perform worldwide, but health issues forced her into early retirement in 2018. In addition to her daughter, actress Gabourey Sidibe, and her son, Ahmed, she is survived by siblings and twin grandchildren, Cooper and Maya. She was predeceased by her sister, civil rights activist Dorothy Pittman Hughes, and brother, singer Roger Ridley.

Deborah Wilker contributed to this report.