The entertainment and radio communities are mourning the loss of Angela Stribling, the pioneering BET personality, jazz artist and longtime radio host whose warm, soothing voice became a familiar presence to audiences for decades. She was 58.
Stribling died peacefully at her home on Saturday, September 26, 2026, following a courageous two-year battle with brain cancer, according to a statement from her husband, Ken Washington, Ph.D. He said that he and Stribling’s sister, Darlene, were by her side when she passed.
“Angela Marie Stribling passed away peacefully at home,” Washington said in the statement shared by WHUR 96.3 FM, where Stribling was a longtime member of the station’s family. A celebration of life is planned for Washington, D.C., with the date and location to be announced.
A Trailblazer at BET
Stribling became a familiar face to television audiences through her work at Black Entertainment Television (BET). She spent four years as a host of Screen Scene, the network’s entertainment news program, where she interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment and culture.
Her BET career expanded beyond Screen Scene. Stribling was involved with the launch of BET Jazz, hosting programs including Jazz Central alongside legendary musicians Ramsey Lewis and Lou Rawls, as well as BET Jazz Discovery and BET Jazz Scene.
Her career also included voice-over work and acting. Journalist Ed Gordon, who worked with Stribling during their years at BET, remembered her talent and versatility following news of her passing. Gordon noted that she sang, performed voice-over work and appeared in films, including the Eddie Murphy comedy The Distinguished Gentleman.
A Voice of Washington Radio
While Stribling became known nationally through BET, her connection to radio was especially significant in the Washington, D.C., community.
She became the first woman to host WHUR’s Original Quiet Storm, a groundbreaking radio format that began at Howard University in 1976. Stribling helped carry the tradition forward for a new generation of listeners.
Her professional relationship with the late Melvin Lindsey, one of the pioneers of the Quiet Storm format, was also an important part of her career. The two were close friends and professional collaborators, hosting BET’s Screen Scene together and later co-hosting On Time on Baltimore’s WJZ-TV.
Stribling continued working in radio throughout her career, including work with SiriusXM, and most recently hosted her own program, Pillow Talk with Angela.
Remembering Angela Stribling
Following news of her death, tributes began pouring in from colleagues and longtime friends.
Ed Gordon shared the news on Facebook, remembering Stribling as someone he worked with at BET before their friendship continued long after they left the network.
Gordon described her as a “sweet soul” while reflecting on their decades-long friendship and expressing prayers for her husband and loved ones.
For generations of listeners and viewers, Stribling represented a unique combination of radio, television, music and entertainment. Her career stretched from Washington-area radio to national television, while her work helped create opportunities for Black voices and entertainers to reach broader audiences.
Angela Stribling is survived by her husband, Ken Washington, and other loved ones.
The Y’all Know What family extends heartfelt condolences to Angela Stribling’s husband, family, friends, former colleagues and the countless listeners and viewers who were touched by her remarkable career.
Rest in heavenly peace, Angela Stribling. Your voice, talent and legacy will continue to be remembered.
