Ashley Rodriguez

"She can sing like a pack of songbirds in the rafters of the Mormon Tabernacle." - Gawker.com

Even though it’s one of the oldest sayings around, Ashley Rodriguez is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. “With everything I’ve experienced, I’ve gotten to a point where I realize that it has all brought me to this place in my life, and I wouldn't change anything I've done.”

Ashley’s journey as an artist began at the age of four when she started ballet, jazz and tap lessons. Loving the art of performance, she joined the drama club in high school, took piano, taught herself guitar and sang in the school’s chorus to hone her skills as an all-around performer. It was there at Chelsea High School that she was introduced to the City Music Program at Berklee College of Music, which eventually awarded her a full four-year tuition scholarship.

During her time at Berklee, Ashley worked to improve herself as a vocalist and majored in Music Business Management in order to fully immerse herself in the industry, completing her degree in December 2009. As a performer, Ashley was offered many incredible opportunities, which included traveling internationally with the gospel group Overjoyed and singing at the Berklee Performance Center with artists such as Philip Bailey, Chaka Kahn, and Berklee alums Lalah Hathaway and Paula Cole.

In August 2009, Ashley beat out hundreds of thousands of hopefuls and earned a golden ticket to Hollywood for American Idol's ninth season. After her initial audition, Simon Cowell said, "Some people have got it, and I think you may have 'it.'" After wowing the judges with stellar renditions of hits by Alicia Keys, Beyonce and Jordin Sparks, Ashley made it to the semifinals of the show, securing a coveted position in the top 24.

Regarding her time on Idol, Ashley says, "I've learned that my work ethic is stronger than I thought. I'm willing to work and work hard for what I want, no matter how crazy this process may be. At the end of the day, I want to know that I love my job and I love what I do. That's the greatest success, and I'll fight to succeed."

Ashley is currently living in the Los Angeles area, continuing to pursue her career in music. She has posed for the now-iconic NOH8 photoshoot and performed in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Boston.