Alice Tan Ridley

Alice Tan Ridley, a singer who used to perform at subway stations before rising to national fame on "America's Got Talent," died March 25, 2025 at the age of 72 in New York City.

Georgia-born Ridley moved to New York in 1971 and began singing at subway stations there after losing her job as a teacher. Her powerful voice made her a mainstay in the city, especially at Herald Station, where she most often performed. In the early 2000s, she started performing in singing competitions, including "Showtime at the Apollo," but her big break came in 2010, when she auditioned for "America's Got Talent." She went to the semi-finals, won national acclaim, and after 30 years of busking at subway stations, became a professional recording artist. Her debut, "Never Lost My Way," was released in 2016 when she was 63. For the next two years, she toured the world before retiring. Ridley was the mother of Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe.

"I first encountered Alice singing Whitney Houston (my favorite) tunes in the subway during my daily commute home from work. Her voice would fill the long corridor beneath Times Square, connecting to Port Authority Bus Terminal, and it was so powerful it would give you chills," New York resident Robert Lesieur-Brooks said on Facebook. "I will miss her presence, but I'm grateful for the gifts she shared with us."

(Image: Noam Galai/Getty Images)