A Tragic Accident
On March 1, 2025, at approximately 4:25 a.m., Stone was traveling with her band in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van on Interstate 65, about five miles south of Montgomery, Alabama.
The van overturned and was subsequently struck by a Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck. Stone was pronounced dead at the scene, while eight other passengers sustained injuries .
The group was en route from a performance at the Grand Marshal’s Ball in Mobile, Alabama, to the CIAA basketball tournament in Baltimore, Maryland, where Stone was scheduled to perform .
A Pioneering Career
Born Angela Laverne Brown on December 18, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, Stone began her musical journey singing gospel at First Nazareth Baptist Church. In the late 1970s, she gained prominence as “Angie B,” a member of The Sequence, one of the first female hip-hop trios, known for their hit “Funk You Up” .
In the 1990s, Stone became the lead vocalist for the R&B group Vertical Hold, achieving success with songs like “Seems You’re Much Too Busy.” Her solo career took off with the release of her debut album, Black Diamond, in 1999, featuring the hit single “No More Rain (In This Cloud).” She followed up with critically acclaimed albums such as Mahogany Soul and Stone Love, earning three Grammy nominations over her career .
Stone was also a talented songwriter, contributing to works by artists like D’Angelo, with whom she had a son, Michael. Her collaborations extended to artists such as Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott, and Snoop Dogg. In addition to her music career, Stone appeared in films like The Hot Chick and The Fighting Temptations, and portrayed Big Mama Morton in the Broadway production of Chicago .
Tributes and Legacy
Following her passing, tributes poured in from fans and fellow artists. Actor and musician Jamie Foxx expressed his grief, stating, “Angie Stone was an incredible songwriter, an incredible artist, an incredible person… never thought in 1 million years that this would happen… Rest In power…” .
Stone is survived by her two children, Diamond and Michael, and two grandchildren. Her daughter, Diamond, confirmed the news of her mother’s death on social media, writing, “My mommy is gone” .
Angie Stone’s contributions to music, particularly in pioneering female presence in hip-hop and shaping the neo-soul genre, leave an indelible mark. Her soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics continue to resonate with fans worldwide.
