Hi Everybody...today’s the day you can begin seeing my entire CMT 330 sessions show at CMT.com. Tyler Cain (guitar/vocals/harmonica) and Josh Metheny (dobro) joined me for this mini concert and interview we taped live at CMT studios here in Nashville a few weeks ago. I’m really pleased with the way it turned out so I hope you’ll take a few minutes to log on and see what we were up to!
http://www.cmt.com/music/unplugged/performance/monroe_ashley/1583955/performance.jhtml
Thanks to all of you who joined us last night at 3rd and Lindsley....and a special thanks to my musician friends who joined me on stage....Tyler Cain, Josh Metheny, Danny Memeo (gtr), Claire Indie (cello) Zach Casebolt (violin) and my special guest, singer songwriter Trent Dabbs.
Next week Nashville hosts Tin Pan South, a songwriter festival and conference that features songwriter performances from some of the worlds greatest songwriters in all genres. I ’m excited to be performing Tuesday April 1st at the Basement for a writers round with my songwriter buddies Zane Williams, Sarah Siskind, and Sally Barris. To find out more about the festival go to http://tinpansouth.com/show_sched.html
That’s all for now
Your Friend
Ashley
It seemed like I always knew music. I can remember being three years old and getting my first microphone and guitar and singing Dolly Parton’s "Why’d ya come in here lookin’ like that" for everybody at my birthday party! AND I remember what I was wearing … that’s one thing about me, I remember what I was wearing at pretty much every important event in my life ..funny.
Most of my family lived on the same road in Knoxville … up the hill from our house was Mamaw and my aunts, uncles and cousins all up and down the road. I was so blessed to have such an amazing childhood … homemade biscuits and gravy every Saturday morning at Mamaw’s … a brother who let me tag along with him and his friends, and wonderful parents who taught me how to love. When I was around ten I sang at church for the first time!! That’s when I realized I not only loved to sing for people, but that I had a gift given to me from God that I needed to use. I got the chance to sing nightly in a Country review show for almost a year in Pigeon Forge TN when I was 12. Everything seemed so perfect.
Then, when I was 13 my dad got sick and passed away. It happened so quickly. That was my first taste of
how hard life can be. He was truly my best friend.. still is. I started writing songs after going through that experience. I didn’t have any idea how people could make a living by writing songs … I didn’t really technically know HOW to write songs ... I just knew that my heart was broken and the only way to ease the pain was to write a song about it.
Two tough years passed and I told mama "Let’s go.. let’s move to Nashville!" …. And soon after, Mom and I made the big move. I met lots of great writers early on and they taught me so much about writing songs. Wrensong Music Publishing gave me a home as a writer and their belief helped me find my way as a singer/songwriter. I got the opportunity to play for Sony Records when I was only 17… and a few months later I got a record deal!! The people at Sony helped me make a record I was, and still am, very proud of. Just as we were releasing the first single and video, Sony and BMG merged companies and I woke up one day to find out that most of the people I had worked with at Sony were no longer part of my world. The new company had a different vision for me as an artist and we both tried hard to make it work. They were great people but in the end it just wasn’t right for either of us. I’m not sure the CD I made will ever see the light of day but I’ve learned that in the music business, sometimes that’s just the way it goes.
During the time I was with Sony and BMG I continued to write and write and write. Other artists started to record my songs and I’m very proud and excited to have just gotten a double platinum award for a song that I co-wrote for Carrie Underwood’s new album called “Flat On The Floor”. Nora Jones recorded another one called “It’s Not You It’s Me”. Its so exciting to hear other artists perform my songs !
So… here I am.. 21 (finally!) . I’ve seen a lot of highs and lows but the songwriting keeps me steady ! Writing at least one song a day seems to get all the "stuff" out of my head. I still have the same music in my soul I have had for as long as I can remember, and I’ll keep making the music that touches me and that I hope touches others for the rest of my life.
ashley thanxs hi how are u i would first like to say u are so talented i know the music biz is tough youll be ok keep writing and making the music youll be signed again i believe i wish u love happiness and sucess one day we will have many cds by u i was so excited 4 your cd 2 be released then it wasnt boo!! if u can get back to me id love to put your music on my page xoxoxo
May I always be the type of person my dog thinks I am!
Let’s all take some time to think about what that means!
Sometimes we can all learn a lot from our four legged friends.
If we could meet the expectations of our animals, would we not be better to ourselves and our friends?
I hope you have a great weekend and a great week!
Don’t forget to stop over and check out the new work I did on my site. All new graphics, easier to find “feature friend” (and an all new feature) and new picture as well in the “My Pics” photo album!
hey ashley i just wanted 2wish u a happy 4th of july.u have the sweetest voice i've ever heard and u are sooooo beautiful that it's no wonder why you'll be singing country muzic 4 a long long time.i'm a big fan,,,Tim
For everyone, There is a reason, To stand strong, To strive for freedom, To live without war, At home and abroad, For these reasons, We will always have, INDEPENDENCE DAY!!
I hope you have, A safe and happy, INDEPENDENCE DAY!!
Loads Of Love & Laughter, Dawn (a.k.a.) DayCreator
congrats on all your success ashley! my mom works a baptist hospital in knoxville and shes good friends with your aunt lisa...well they dont work together anymore they are closing the hospital...so sad! well anyways i just wanted to say hi and that we are all proud of you here in east tennessee.
Nothin like chillin and fishin with a chilly cold one!
Whatever floats your boat, take some time for yourself this weekend to relax and smell the roses!
If you haven’t stopped over in a while, you should. I have changed a bunch of “Top Friends”, added new pic’s and have a new “featured friend” to introduce you too!
If you get a chance stop over and visit! Would love to hear from you!
How is your summer going & what have you been up too Your new song Dear Time it has a great country beat to the song and you have a very beautiful singing voice Thanks for being a friend Have a Rocking weekend
Love the new song when you gonna release a cd???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
