North Carolina Vocalist Ashley B is Inspiring A New Generation.
By just being Ashley B, she's becoming the face of inspirational R&B.
Genres come and go, but what will always remain are talented people who are willing to blend them to reach the masses. In the black community, institutions like the church have always served as a talent pool, helping the youth nurture their talent in a safe space. But it hasn’t always loved how its participants have used their talents to bring people closer to God.
For homegrown talents like Ashley Blaire-Hunt, known professionally as Ashley B, their voice and their sound reflect what she calls “inspirational R&B”. Born and raised in North Carolina, she grew up singing since a child and has spent the better part of her adult years showcasing her skill on large platforms such as American Idol in 2022.
Recharged and ready to make her brand larger, she’s been prepping for the takeover. But before we can know where she’s going, we must know who she is.
“North Carolina Raised Me”
Born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ashley moved to Salisbury, North Carolina, in elementary school where she lived until college. Growing up in a smaller environment surrounded by a supportive family helped her gain a strong sense of self and, most of all, allowed her to explore her talent unfettered.
“I have great memories from Winston and Salisbury. I love North Carolina and the southern living. North Carolina is where I got my foundation in church and music. It raised me.”
Singers like Yolanda Adams and North Carolina native Fantasia influenced her as a child, showing her how music reaches people from different walks of life. When asked about the role of music in the church, Ashley said, “People don’t realize the power they have as artists. Being brought up in the church, the music ministry was about worship and praising God not just clapping your hands.”
Active in the church and on the hardcourt, Ashley grew up playing sports, dabbling in volleyball and basketball throughout high school as a guard. In addition, she also flexed her artistic muscles, writing plays in school and auditioning as a teenager for the televised show, America’s Got Talent.
Things changed when she met the storied music producer, Paul Laurence, who was blown away by her voice and decided to offer his help. The producer and writer behind hits such as “Rock Me Tonight” by Freddie Jackson and “Love Come Down” by Evelyn King, he worked with Ashley while she was in high school, showing her the ropes of the industry before she went on to college and began making her music.
Grown
After high school, Ashley went to a Catholic college, Belmont Abbey College, where she played basketball briefly before diving headfirst into making music. In addition to playing basketball, she worked numerous jobs, serving as a choir director on campus as well as cleaning houses and more to make ends meet. Juggling adulthood and all of its challenges left her with a plethora of material to write from which led to her releasing music at the time under the name B Ashley B.
“Most of my current fanbase now is from college. B Ashley B is a reminder for me to be myself. As I talk about myself, it’s that little reminder to stay humble and remember where I come from.”
After graduating in 2019, she released her first EP, Grown, and immediately began gaining attention, earning a write-up in the Charlotte Post for her work. Her first single, “Don’t Need Me”, was created alongside her mentor, Paul, who Ashley credits for his guidance and foresight. “I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to record around him. That was big for me then and now,” says Ashley.
Despite all of the momentum Ashley was garnering, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and personal challenges posed a problem for her. She also struggled with the pressures of her church family who struggled to see her and her music in the proper light as an adult. Writing music for her fans both in the world and the church forced her to embrace the inspirational R&B lane.
“I never wanted to be stuck in one lane, because the people I am trying to reach are all over. If I am trying to bring people closer to God and healing, I can’t just do gospel. It was challenging, but despite how anyone felt I had to stay true to who I am.”
American Idol
In 2022, Ashley took another creative risk, submitting her audition tape to the company after following a friend’s advice. She credits a daily ritual she followed where she devoted seven minutes to meditating and speaking with God as the key that led to her being selected on the show. Ashley eventually went on to become #59 out of 100,000 people, getting the chance to be mentored by legends such as Lionel Richie.
“It was a great experience to be a part of it and wound up getting credits for being on there and all of it came from being obedient.”
2022 was a breakthrough year for Ashley who went on to release her next project, Seven Minutes, shortly afterwards. A nod to the transformative power of focus and obedience, the project landed her on the radar of fellow North Carolina music producer, Mark Sanders Jr, who offered to help manage her.
Her recent placement in the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 video game and social media snippets of her music serve as further proof of her plans to become even bigger in 2025. But if you ask Ashley what’s different this time, she states it simply:
“My why is different. My family and parents, the family I will start in the future are a part of that. My goal is to retire my parents and ultimately help the people who helped me along the way. That is what my purpose is and that is why I was given this gift to help others.”