If you saw Gabourey Sidibe in the Oscar winning film ‘Precious’ and thought talent like that must run in the family, you’re right – Her mom, Alice Tan Ridley just blew the audience away on America’s Got Talent.
Alice, 58, unassumingly took to the stage and launched into Etta James’ 1960 R&B classic, ‘At Last,’ and the audience were on their feet within a few bars. But host, Nick Cannon thought Alice looked familiar;
“Don’t I know you from somewhere?” he asked when she arrived to audition.
Her answer was modest, but the fact is Alice is a former nursery-school teacher and teacher’s aide who began moonlighting as a singer at Manhattan train stations to put food on the table. And she became such a hit she’s been doing that three days a week for the last 18 years.
Why, you might ask?
“I love to see the smiles on peoples’ faces,” Alice told USA. “This is what I’ve been pursuing all my life. Maybe this is it, from the subway to the big stage!”
But the audience last night was more receptive than the average commuter;
“What an amazing voice,” oozed Howie Mandel. “I love what you did, and you deserve to be heard by much more than everybody on the train.”
Piers Morgan agreed, “In terms of raw talent, the best audition of the day,” he professed.
Now Gabourey’s a star, Alice says she’s pursuing her own dream “to become a great singer.” And she’s well on her way – She aced this round, and will now move on to the semi-finals in Vegas.
We’ll keep you advised on how far she goes…
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