Angela Stribling, a pioneering voice of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and a celebrated radio personality, has died at 58.
Her husband, Ken Washington, confirmed that Stribling died peacefully at her home on Saturday, Sept. 26, following a two-year battle with brain cancer.
Washington announced her death through Stribling’s social media accounts and in a statement to WHUR 96.3 FM, the Washington, D.C., station where she made history.
“Angela leaves behind a legacy of love, joy, kindness, inspiration, and a voice and spirit that will never be forgotten,” Washington said.
He also revealed that Stribling’s sister, Darlene, was with her when she died.
Stribling became one of the familiar faces of BET during the network’s formative years, helping shape its early entertainment and music programming.
She co-hosted “Screen Scene” with Melvin Lindsey and regularly appeared on “Video Soul,” one of BET’s signature music programs.
Her career also extended into jazz broadcasting. Stribling co-hosted “Jazz Central” alongside legendary musicians and broadcasters including Ramsey Lewis and Lou Rawls.
But her influence went beyond television.
At WHUR, Stribling made radio history as the first woman to host the original “Quiet Storm.” Her distinctive voice and polished delivery later became the signature of “Pillow Talk with Angela,” a late-night program that reached a national audience through SiriusXM.
Her credits also included a cameo as a news anchor in the 1992 film “The Distinguished Gentleman” and a 2020 appearance on “The Real Housewives of Potomac.”
News of Stribling’s death prompted tributes from colleagues and longtime friends across the media industry.
Veteran journalist Ed Gordon, who worked alongside Stribling during BET’s early years, remembered her as a “sweet soul” and reflected on the difficulty of losing a member of the close-knit BET family.
Stribling had publicly reflected on her health struggles in an October 2025 birthday post, describing the challenges she faced as the most difficult experience of her life while expressing gratitude for another year.
Her family is now planning a celebration of life in the Washington, D.C., area. Washington said details about the date and venue will be announced later.
For decades, Stribling’s work across BET, radio and entertainment helped establish her as a distinctive voice in Black media. Her legacy spans television, jazz and R&B broadcasting, and a career built around a voice that became instantly recognizable to generations of listeners and viewers.
