R&B Singer Angie Stone Killed in Car Crash: Details and Tributes

The accident occurred early on Saturday, April 13, after Stone had performed in Alabama. She was traveling back to Atlanta in a van when it overturned on Interstate 65, about five miles south of Montgomery.

The van was then struck by a Freightliner truck. Stone was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and seven other passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“Never in a million years did we ever expect to get this horrible news,” Stone’s children, Diamond and Michael Archer, said in a statement. “We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken.”

Angie Stone’s longtime manager, Walter Millsap III, described the incident as an “unexpected and unfortunate tragedy,” adding, “There are simply no words to express how we feel.”

Stone’s career spanned decades, beginning in the 1970s as a member of The Sequence, the first all-female hip-hop group signed to Sugar Hill Records.

The group’s hit “Funk You Up” peaked at No. 15 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and has been sampled by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre.

After her time with The Sequence, Stone joined the trio Vertical Hold before launching a successful solo career in the late 1990s. Her 2001 album “Mahogany Soul” reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200, while her 2007 album “The Art of Love & War” peaked at No. 11. Stone’s music, which blended R&B, soul, and neo-soul, resonated with fans worldwide, earning her three Grammy nominations.

“She left her indelible mark on the music industry,” said Guy Todd Williams, a member of the hip-hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. “She was a trailblazer and an inspiration to many.”

Beyond music, Stone also made a name for herself in film and television. She appeared in movies like “The Hot Chick” (2002) and “The Fighting Temptations” (2003), alongside stars like Rob Schneider, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Beyoncé.

She also showcased her acting skills on Broadway, playing Big Mama Morton in “Chicago,” and shared her personal journey on reality TV shows like “Celebrity Fit Club” and “R&B Divas: Atlanta.”

Stone’s passion for music was deeply rooted in her upbringing. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, she grew up in a musical family. Her mother sang around the house, and her father performed gospel and blues at local venues.

 “I’m an only child, so my dad and my mom are my life,” Stone told The Associated Press in a 1999 interview. “He was very influential in what I wanted to do.”

In 2007, Stone opened up about overcoming personal challenges, including a battle with congestive heart failure.

She lost over 40 pounds, adopted a healthier lifestyle, and found renewed joy in her career. “I feel complete. I have a new love, a new album, a new outlook, and a newfound joy,” she said at the time. “Now I can finally say I feel I’ve arrived and mean it.”

Stone’s death has left the music world in mourning. The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), where she was scheduled to perform at a halftime show on the day of her death, held a moment of silence in her honor. 

“She used her incredible talent, passion, and presence to inspire and touch us with strength and hope,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker.