Angie Stone Dead at 63 – R&B Icon Dies in Tragic Car Accident
Angie Stone, the Grammy-nominated R&B and neo-soul singer, tragically passed away on March 1, 2025, at the age of 63 in a car accident near Montgomery, Alabama. She was en route to Atlanta after a performance when the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van she was traveling in overturned on Interstate 65 and was struck by a semi-trailer truck. Stone was the sole fatality; the driver and seven other passengers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries .
Born Angela Laverne Brown in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1961, Stone began her musical journey in the church, influenced by her father, a gospel quartet member. She rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a founding member of The Sequence, one of the first all-female hip-hop groups, known for their hit “Funk You Up,” which was later sampled by Dr. Dre . ([Angie Stone, Grammy-nominated R&B singer, dies in vehicle collision – Los Angeles Times]
Stone’s solo career took off with her debut album, *Black Diamond* (1999), which featured the hit single “No More Rain (In This Cloud),” topping Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart for 10 weeks. She continued to release successful albums, including *Mahogany Soul* (2001) and *The Art of Love & War* (2007), and earned three Grammy nominations throughout her career .
Beyond music, Stone was an actress, appearing in films such as *The Fighting Temptations* and *Ride Along*, and on Broadway in *Chicago*. She also made appearances on reality TV shows like *Celebrity Fit Club* and *R&B Divas: Atlanta* .
In 2024, Stone was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame, a testament to her lasting impact on the music industry . She is survived by her two children, Diamond and Michael, and two grandchildren. Her daughter, Diamond, expressed the family’s heartbreak, stating, “We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken” .
Tributes from fans and fellow artists poured in following her passing. Jennifer Hudson described Stone as “a true pioneer,” while Jamie Foxx expressed his sorrow, stating, “Angie Stone was an incredible songwriter, and incredible artist and incredible person … never thought in 1 million years that this would happen…” The NAACP Image Awards also honored her legacy, calling her a “true pioneer, a soulful storyteller, and a voice that helped shape the sound of R&B” .
Angie Stone’s contributions to music and culture have left an indelible mark, and she will be remembered for her soulful voice, pioneering spirit, and the warmth she brought to every performance.
