Angela Stribling, pioneering Black Entertainment Television (BET) personality and popular radio host, has died at 58 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. Her husband, Ken Washington, announced that she died peacefully at home on September 26, with her sister Darlene and Ken by her side.
The longtime broadcaster built a career across television and radio, becoming one of the familiar voices connected to BET’s early entertainment and jazz programming.
Ken shared the news on Stribling’s Instagram account and with WHUR 96.3 FM in Washington, D.C., on September 27, according to USA Today. He said she left behind a legacy centered on love, kindness, joy, and inspiration. The family plans to hold a celebration of life in Washington, D.C., although the date and location have not been announced. Her death also prompted tributes from people who worked with her during her years in broadcasting.
Veteran BET personality Ed Gordon remembered her as a “sweet soul” and former colleague. He said the news was especially difficult for the BET family, which has lost several longtime members. Gordon also recalled a recent conversation in which she told him she and her husband planned to spend more time in Washington after living in the western United States for several years. He offered his condolences to Washington and her other loved ones.
Stribling had publicly hinted at health struggles before her death. In an October 2025 birthday post, she reflected on a difficult year and described facing an unexpected health challenge. She said she remained grateful for life and wanted to embrace what came next. Her comments came several months before Washington confirmed that she had been battling brain cancer for two years.
Her broadcasting career stretched across television, radio and entertainment. She most recently hosted Pillow Talk with Angela on WHUR and SiriusXM. She also appeared on Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Potomac in 2020 and had a small role as a television anchor in the 1992 Eddie Murphy film The Distinguished Gentleman. Earlier, she hosted BET’s entertainment program Screen Scene during the 1990s and became an important part of the network’s jazz programming through Jazz Central and other shows.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Stribling attended the Fashion Institute of Technology before moving to Washington, D.C., where she developed a career built around her voice. She often described herself as a jazz singer first, a passion that remained important alongside her work in broadcasting. Over the years, she performed on stage, interviewed and highlighted other artists, and connected with audiences through radio and television. Her death marks the loss of a longtime BET and Washington-area broadcasting personality whose career spanned several decades.
SOURCE: blacknews.com