Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Tankard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
God has truly been the foundation of my entire story. When I look back over my life, there are so many moments that did not make sense while I was living them, but now I can see how God was using each one to lead me here.
I grew up in North Carolina in a big family as one of ten children, and music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. My faith and my love for music became intertwined very early. I have always loved to sing, but for a long time, I don’t think I fully understood that my voice could become part of a much bigger purpose. Over time, I realized that I didn’t just want to sing because I loved music. I wanted to use whatever God placed inside of me to make people feel seen, encouraged, understood, and ultimately point people back to Jesus.
One of the biggest turning points in my life came through American Idol. My journey with the show eventually took me all the way to Hollywood in 2023. That experience stretched me tremendously and gave me a glimpse of what was possible, but one of the most important things that came from that season was Nashville. In June of 2023, I packed up my life and moved here. I didn’t come with a perfectly mapped out career or all of the resources I thought I needed. I came with faith, a dream, and the belief that God was telling me to go.
The years since moving to Nashville have shaped me more than anything else. There have been beautiful moments, but there have also been seasons of disappointment, grief, financial uncertainty, rejection, loneliness, and questioning whether I was really capable of doing what I felt called to do. I’ve worked regular jobs, served in my church, written songs in my room, posted covers online, auditioned, heard “no,” started over, and kept going. There were seasons when the dream looked completely different from what I imagined, but God continued to remind me that purpose isn’t measured by how quickly something happens.
Somewhere along the way, I also realized that my creativity wasn’t limited to singing. In December 2025, I released my first book, Fear Didn’t Win. That book is incredibly personal to me because it isn’t simply about learning how to live with fear or finding the courage to do things while afraid. It’s the story of my deliverance. For most of my life, I was held captive by the spirit of fear. Fear affected the way I lived, the way I saw myself, and so many of the decisions I made. But the Lord delivered me from something that had followed me for years, and then He called me to tell the story of that deliverance. Fear Didn’t Win became my testimony in book form. I wrote it because I knew that if God could free me from something that once had such a stronghold over my life, my story could help someone else believe that freedom is possible for them too.
That same desire to tell the truth has shaped me as a songwriter. In May 2026, I released my original song Even Jesus Had Boundaries, a song born out of my own struggle with people pleasing and learning that having boundaries doesn’t make you unloving. Jesus Himself loved people deeply while still knowing when to step away, pray, rest, and stay focused on what the Father called Him to do. Writing and releasing that song helped me understand even more clearly the kind of artist I want to be. I want someone to hear a song of mine and think, “I thought I was the only person who felt that way.”
Social media has also unexpectedly become a huge part of that journey. Sharing music and pieces of my life online has allowed me to connect with thousands of people I may never have reached otherwise. Some of the most meaningful moments aren’t necessarily the numbers, but the messages from people telling me that a song, video, or something I shared encouraged them at exactly the right time. Those moments continually remind me that what God gives us isn’t always just for us.
Most recently, I’ve started stepping into live performing and allowing myself to really see myself as an artist, not just someone who can sing. That has required me to come out of my shell in a completely different way. I’m still growing, still learning, still writing, and still figuring out what this next chapter looks like, but I think that’s part of what makes this season so special.
Today, I’m a singer songwriter, author, and creative building a life and career here in Nashville through the leading of the Holy Spirit and. My ultimate goal isn’t simply to become successful or known. I want my life to be evidence of what can happen when you continue following God. I want to make honest music, tell meaningful stories, help people experience the joy of the Lord, make people feel less alone, and use every opportunity I’m given to glorify God.
I’m nowhere near at the end of my story, and I think that’s my favorite part. There is still so much I don’t know about what’s ahead. But if my journey so far has taught me anything, it’s that I don’t have to know every step when I trust the One who does.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Moving to Nashville was one of the biggest leaps of faith I had ever taken, and I don’t think I fully understood how difficult it would be until I was actually here. I moved away from my family and everything that was familiar to me without really knowing what life in Nashville was going to look like. I knew why I came, but I didn’t necessarily know how everything was going to come together.
Loneliness was one of the hardest parts, especially in the beginning. There is a difference between visiting a city you’re excited about and actually building a life there. I had to create community from scratch, learn a new city, find my place, and figure out who I was outside of everything and everyone I had always known. There were moments when Nashville felt exciting and full of possibility, and there were other moments when I felt incredibly alone.
Financial hardship has also been a very real part of my journey. I work a 9-5 while trying to build a career as an artist, and there have been seasons when simply making ends meet took so much. Pursuing a dream when you don’t have unlimited resources can be humbling. I’ve had moments when I didn’t know exactly how things were going to work out, but I’ve watched God provide for me in ways I couldn’t have planned for myself. Those seasons have taught me to depend on Him in a way I don’t think comfort ever could have.
Rejection and waiting have been another huge challenge. You can be incredibly hopeful about an opportunity and then hear no, or sometimes hear nothing at all. I’ve had to learn not to allow an audition, a number, an opportunity, or someone else’s opinion of my gift determine my worth. I’ve also had to watch other people reach milestones I desperately wanted for myself while trusting that God’s timing for my life doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
I’ve experienced grief and loss during these years as well, and there have been seasons when I was trying to keep showing up for my dreams while carrying things privately that were much heavier than anyone around me realized. I’ve learned that sometimes strength looks like continuing, and sometimes it looks like giving yourself permission to grieve, rest, pray, and let God meet you where you are.
And, of course, fear has been one of the biggest battles of my life, which is why the Lord delivering me from the spirit of fear became such an important part of my testimony and eventually the foundation of my book, Fear Didn’t Win.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but I wouldn’t erase the difficult parts. They’ve deepened my faith, given me compassion for other people, shaped the stories I tell through my music and writing, and taught me that God is just as present in the waiting as He is in the breakthrough.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
For the past two, going on three years, I’ve worked as a barista. Coffee has actually been a really special part of my time in Nashville because I genuinely enjoy people, and being a barista gives me the opportunity to connect with so many different people every day.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve continued pursuing music while working and supporting myself. It isn’t always glamorous, and balancing everyday responsibilities with a dream can be difficult, but I haven’t allowed where I am right now to make me lose sight of where I believe God is calling me.
I think what sets me apart is the joy and personality I bring to my work. I genuinely love connecting with people, learning their names and stories, and hopefully making their day a little brighter than it was before they walked in.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I actually don’t believe in luck! When I look at my life and the opportunities I’ve been given, I believe I’ve experienced the grace, favor, provision, and intentionality of God.
There have been too many moments in my journey where the right person, opportunity, provision, or connection came at a time when I couldn’t have orchestrated it myself. Some people may call those moments lucky, but I see the hand of God in them.
That doesn’t mean everything has always worked out the way I wanted it to. I’ve experienced plenty of closed doors, disappointments, and seasons where I didn’t understand what God was doing. But even in those moments, I’ve learned that a closed door isn’t necessarily bad luck, just like an open door isn’t necessarily good luck. Sometimes God’s protection and direction can look like a “no.”
So I wouldn’t say luck has played a role in my life or career. I would say God’s grace has. I believe He has ordered my steps, opened the doors that were meant for me, closed some that weren’t, and provided for me in ways I never could have planned. My responsibility is simply to remain faithful with whatever He puts in front of me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleytankardmusic?igsh=anJvNXJwOGlhemI0&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://a.co/d/00gg96md
