Every few years, a new country artist will clearly stand out of the pack of the emerging talent. Ashley Gearing is that artist.
With the release of her new album, “Maybe It’s Time,” Ashley has proven her ability as a songwriter as well as an artist co-writing the song, “Maybe It’s Just The Moon” with “A” list writer Stephanie Bentley. Country Weekly recently reviewed the album and raved, “It’s a striking collection of well-chosen tunes that show off a stunning voice and confident singer who knows – at the still precocious age of 15 – exactly how to use it.”
And fans agree, as witnessed from rapid sales of the new album on iTunes and worldwide in such places as Japan, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.
At the young age of 12, Ashley made history by entering Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart, eclipsing a 46 year-old record previously held by Brenda Lee. The song, “Can You Hear Me When I Talk to You,” gave Ashley immediate national exposure by displaying a talent well beyond her years.
Since then, Ashley has been busy creating new music, honing her songwriting skills and playing guitar. She received ASCAP’s “Uncut Diamond” award as a future country rising star, performed numerous times on the famed stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and was voted Best Female Country artist in a New Country Artist poll in 2006. She also performed with the Boston Pops, at the homecoming celebration for General Tommy Franks, and on national television for the Boston Red Sox on numerous occasions, including the national playoffs with the New York Yankees in 2004. In addition, Ashley recorded music for the Walt Disney CD Series, DISNEYMANIA, with an incredible version of “When You Wish up On a Star.” Most recently, she was a featured guest on numerous national radio shows, including the “Rick and Bubba” show and the “Chris Conn” show which is syndicated in 122 markets.
Now, at age 15, Ashley’s immense talent is undeniable. She has grown into a beautiful young woman, and her vocal prowess places her amongst the most elite female singers in country music. Whether she is performing in front of a festival of 30,000 people or at an intimate in-the-round venue, Ashley is a professional who commands respect from the stage and delivers stunning performances.
Almost as amazing as her musical talent is her ability to connect with fans. In her first 3 months of maintaining a myspace music website, she has had in excess of 255,000 song plays, with an average of 4,000 per day. With a fan base of 7,000 fans on that site alone, she is a force to be taken seriously.
“This is a dream come true” Ashley says. “This is what I love to do, and I’m enjoying every bit of it. The support from my family and friends is really wonderful, and I’m especially happy that there are a lot of young people among my fans, because it’s great that they know about country music”. It is a relationship sure to grow as Ashley’s voice is heard by a wider and wider audience. |
