Alice Tan Ridley has been performing in the subways of New York City for more than 30 years. Stopping commuters in their tracks for decades with her brand of life-affirming soul singing is part of the fabric of the city for thousands of workers every single day.
The mother of Precious star Gabourey Sidibe and an America’s Got Talent semifinalist, Ridley will be performing the national anthem on Family Day before NYCFC’s showdown with Atlanta United on May 7.
This is her story…
I’ve been singing in the Subways for more than 30 years, since before my kids were born and my favorite thing about performing is seeing the smiles on people’s faces.