'Precious' Oscar-nominee Gabourey Sidibe's mother Alice Tan Ridley brought audiences to their feet on last night's "America's Got Talent."
Move over Susan Boyle, there's a new talent ready to take the world by storm. Never mind being the mother of an Oscar-nominated actress, Tan Ridley simply wants America to know she can sing. Last night on the Nick Cannon-hosted NBC reality show, the mom sang her heart out to the tune of Etta James' "At Last." As Cannon shouted, "Sing it momma," she received a standing ovation from the audience, with Sharon Osbourne asking the 58-year-old singer, "How come nobody [has] signed you [yet]?"
This seemingly new talent is actually a veteran of the stage. According to her website, Alice was born into a musical family in Georgia, and has been singing since the age of 3. She's been singing full-time since 1992, making her daughter only 9 years old when she left teaching handicapped children in NYC for a musician's lifestyle. The self-proclaimed Goddess of Soul has among her credits a Local Public Service Announcement Emmy Award as well as a singing appearance in the LA Street dance film 'Rize.' Not only does she perform regularly in the high rises of New York, but her participation in the Music Under New York series has brought her melodious voice to millions of subway riders.
