Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Angie Stone was killed in a crash on Interstate 65 in Montgomery County early Saturday morning, her manager Deborah Champagne confirmed to WSFA 12 News. She was 63.
Champagne says Stone was leaving a performance and heading toward the CIAA basketball tournament in Baltimore when the crash happened. According to reports, the veteran R&B and hip-hop soul star was traveling in a Sprinter van from Alabama when it was struck by an 18-wheeler truck. Further details surrounding the incident remain scarce at this time.
Stone, whose career spanned over four decades, first made her mark in the music industry as a member of the pioneering trio The Sequence. Hailing from South Carolina, the group broke barriers in the late ‘70s as one of the first all-female groups signed to the iconic Sugar Hill Records. Their 1979 hit single, Funk You Up, became an early hip-hop classic and laid the groundwork for women in the genre. As the first voice heard on their groundbreaking track Monster Jam, Stone—then known as Angie B—helped shape the emerging hip-hop and R&B landscape.
After her time with The Sequence, Stone continued her musical evolution, becoming the lead vocalist of the R&B trio Vertical Hold. The group gained traction in the early ‘90s with hits like Seems You’re Just Too Busy, but it wasn’t until Stone launched her solo career that she truly solidified her status as a trailblazer of hip-hop soul.
Her 1999 debut album, Black Diamond, released under Arista Records, became a critical and commercial success, peaking at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Featuring the soulful hit No More Rain (In This Cloud)—a song that sampled Gladys Knight & the Pips’ Neither One of Us—the album showcased Stone’s signature blend of hip-hop soul, gospel, and classic R&B influences. As a protégé of legendary music executive Clive Davis, Stone followed him to his newly established J Records, where she released Mahogany Soul in 2001. The album, which housed the fan-favorite Wish I Didn’t Miss You, continued her reign as an R&B powerhouse.
Throughout the 2000s, Stone solidified her legacy with albums like Stone Love (2004), The Art of Love & War (2007), and Dream (2015), earning her a devoted fan base and multiple Grammy nominations. Her influence extended beyond her own discography, as she collaborated with musical legends such as Prince, D’Angelo, Lenny Kravitz, and Macy Gray.
In addition to her contributions to music, Stone also made a name for herself in acting. She appeared in films like The Fighting Temptations (2003) alongside Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr., and Pastor Brown (2009). She also took on the role of Matron “Mama” Morton in the Broadway musical Chicago, further showcasing her versatility as an entertainer. Stone later ventured into television, making guest appearances on shows such as Girlfriends and Lincoln Heights and starring in reality series including R&B Divas: Atlanta.
Her most recent success came in 2023, when she topped Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart with a feature on Damon Little’s No Stressing, proving her enduring influence across multiple genres.
Angie Stone’s impact on music, film, and theater will never be forgotten. As an artist who seamlessly blended hip-hop soul, R&B, and gospel, she leaves behind a legacy of timeless music and cultural influence that will inspire generations to come.