But it sounds like she likes where she is just fine!
Precious breakout star Gabourey Sidibe‘s mother Alice Tan Ridley has been singing in the Times Square subway station 3 days a week for 18 years!
“My name is not on Gabby’s paycheck,” Alice explains. “For a while, I was teaching and doing the singing, burning the candle at both ends to support my family…” But now the songstress says she makes enough money singing in the subway to pay the bills and feed the kids.
Ridley has even traveled to Chile, Argentina and Germany to sing and she’s been offered club gigs, but she prefers where she’s at. “People always say, ‘Why don’t you sing in clubs?’ I tell ’em, ‘This is my club.'”
Gabby’s mom was offered the role that Mo’nique ended up with as Precious’ mother in the film, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it saying, “Being a mom and a teacher, I just couldn’t play that part. It was just too hard.”
We’re bet Mo’nique’s happy that Alice opted out now that she’s in the running for an Oscar!
Check out Alice’s rendition of “Midnight Train To Georgia” — she can really belt it out!
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