Angie Stone Dies in Car Crash at 63: A Look at Her Legacy

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone, known for her soulful hits and trailblazing career, has died at 63 following a tragic car accident. The singer was riding in a vehicle returning to Atlanta from Alabama when it overturned and was struck by a big rig early Saturday morning.

According to her longtime manager Walter Millsap III, Angie Stone was the only fatality in the crash, while other passengers in the cargo van survived. The Alabama Highway Patrol confirmed that the accident occurred on Interstate 65, about five miles south of Montgomery. The van, a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, overturned before being hit by a Freightliner Cascadia truck.

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

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Angie Stone’s career began as a member of The Sequence, one of the first all-female hip-hop groups signed to Sugar Hill Records. The trio’s hit “Funk You Up” became an early hip-hop classic, later sampled by major artists like Dr. Dre.

After The Sequence, Angie Stone joined the group Vertical Hold before launching a successful solo career. Her 2001 album Mahogany Soul featured the hit “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” solidifying her status in the neo-soul movement alongside artists like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and Maxwell.

Angie Stone’s music resonated deeply with fans, blending R&B, gospel, and soul influences. Songs like “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Baby” topped the Billboard Adult R&B airplay chart, with the latter featuring the legendary Betty Wright. Her 2007 album The Art of Love & War peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200.

Beyond music, Angie Stone showcased her acting skills in films like The Hot Chick, The Fighting Temptations, and Ride Along. She also took to the Broadway stage as Big Mama Morton in Chicago and appeared in reality shows like Celebrity Fit Club and R&B Divas: Atlanta.

Angie Stone was scheduled to perform at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s (CIAA) men’s basketball championship game halftime show on Saturday. In her honor, CIAA officials held a moment of silence, with Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker saying, “She used her incredible talent, passion, and presence to inspire and touch us with strength and hope.”

Despite past health challenges, including a battle with congestive heart failure, Stone remained dedicated to her craft. “Now I feel like I’m on my way to a happily ever after,” she said in 2007. “I’ve been in the business since 1979. I’ve grudged and drudged… Now I can finally say I feel I’ve arrived and mean it.”

Angie Stone’s impact on music and culture will live on through her timeless songs and powerful legacy.