Alice Tan Ridley on America's Got Talent
Last year, it was a chicken farmer. Before him, a loud-mouthed Brit with a mop of curly hair. This year, the standout surprise of the international Talent phenomenon comes straight from the subways of New York City. Like last year’s America’s Got Talent winner Kevin Skinner and Susan Boyle of the British version of the show, Alice Tan Ridley captured our attention with an unsuspectingly strong voice in her audition. But, there’s just one difference between her and these former contestants – she’s the mother of a famous movie star.
Alice Tan Ridley may be the mother of Gabourey Sidibe, the star of the Oscar nominated films, Precious, but the 58-year-old celebrity mom is seeking fame of her own. Born in Harlem, Ridley humbly worked as a nursery school teacher and a Department of Education teacher’s aide. Eventually, however, Ridley followed her true passion to the subway stations of Manhattan and began to entertain passengers as an R&B/Gospel singer. She’s been performing in underground venues for the past 20 years.
Although her daughter earned plenty of success from her hit film, Ridley chose not to live off Gabourey’s new fame and fortune. The ambitious mother earned enough money singing in the subway to pay the bills. With an open suitcase, a microphone and a hearty supply of music, Ridley belted out classics such as Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia,” Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” for passengers three times a week. On Tuesday, however, Ridley entertained a slightly larger crowd when she auditioned for America’s Got Talent. Her rendition of Etta James’s “At Last” brought the audience to its feet. When she belted out the soulful song, she was given more than tips from passersby. After receiving the long overdue standing ovation, Ridley was also praised with compliments from the judges.
Her only audience for the past two decades may have been strangers on the subway, but now the celebrity mom has all of America cheering for her. After being rewarded a spot in the semi finals of the popular NBC show, Ridley is out of the subway and on the right track.
