Gabourey Sidibe Shares Emotional Tribute on First Mother’s Day Since Losing Her Mom, Singer Alice Tan Ridley

Actress Gabourey Sidibe is remembering her mother, singer Alice Tan Ridley, who passed away nearly two months ago.

On Sidibe’s first Mother’s Day without Ridley, the “Precious” star shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, reflecting on her grief and gratitude.

“It would’ve been nice to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mother as a mom myself,” Sidibe wrote. “It would’ve been even nicer if she had the opportunity to meet her grandchildren, but she was sick for a long time, and that’s just not how things worked out.”

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Sidibe, who recently became a mother to twins Maya and Cooper, said she finds comfort in the stories and memories of her mom. “I am grateful for the years I did have her and all the funny stories about her I’ll someday be able to tell my kids,” she said.

In the post, she recalled one particularly humorous moment that captured her mother’s spirit. “After I got married, she came to visit and fell in love with my cats, but then said, ‘It’s time to stop f@ck!ng around with these cats and have some kids.’ Well, we got right on top of that.”

Though she admitted celebrating the day “feels wrong,” Sidibe found a way to honor her mother’s legacy. “My Mom was so fun and really funny…so with gratitude, today I will celebrate her through [my kids].”

Ridley died in New York City on March 25th, 2025. Before her death, she was a well-known vocalist who competed on the fifth season of “America’s Got Talent.” Before appearing on the show, Ridley excelled in the pilot episode of “30 Seconds to Fame,” where she won a $25,000 grand prize for her remarkable talent. She released her debut album, “Never Lost My Way,” at the age of 63 in September 2016.