R&B Star Angie Stone Tragically Dies in Crash Hours Before CIAA Halftime Performance

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Grammy-nominated R&B legend Angie Stone, who was set to perform at the CIAA Tournament championship game halftime show, tragically died early Saturday in a car accident. She was 63.

The beloved singer, known for hits like “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “No More Rain (In This Cloud),” was traveling back to Atlanta from Alabama when the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van she was riding in overturned and was struck by a semi-truck on Interstate 65.

The crash happened around 4:25 a.m., just five miles south of Montgomery, according to the Alabama Highway Patrol. Everyone else in the van survived, but Stone was pronounced dead at the scene.

CIAA Honors Angie Stone with Moment of Silence

Stone’s passing cast a somber tone over the CIAA Men’s Championship Game in Baltimore, where she was scheduled to perform during halftime. CIAA Chaplain Pastor Jerome Barber led a moment of silence in her honor, while CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker expressed heartbreak over the sudden loss.

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

A Trailblazer in Music

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Stone was a pioneer in hip-hop and R&B, first making waves with the all-female rap group The Sequence. The group’s 1979 hit “Funk You Up” was one of the earliest recorded rap songs and has been sampled by artists including Dr. Dre.

She later transitioned into R&B, helping shape the neo-soul movement of the early 2000s alongside artists like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell, and D’Angelo. Her 2001 album “Mahogany Soul” cemented her place in music history with the timeless hit “Wish I Didn’t Miss You”.

An Outpouring of Grief

News of Stone’s death sent shockwaves through the music industry. Her children, Diamond and Michael Archer released a statement saying, “We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken.”

Her longtime manager, Walter Millsap III, called the loss “devastating beyond words.”

A Lasting Legacy

Stone’s impact stretched beyond music. She had a successful acting career, appearing in films like “The Fighting Temptations” and “Ride Along”, as well as starring on Broadway in “Chicago”. She also shared her journey on reality shows like “R&B Divas: Atlanta” and “Celebrity Fit Club.”

Though her voice has been silenced, Angie Stone’s music and legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.