Ashley Hess is a singer-songwriter from Fremont, California who is currently competing on season 17 of American Idol. After graduating from high school at the age of 18, Ashley thought she had her future all figured out and was convinced she wanted to be a dental hygienist. She moved to Utah to study dental hygiene at Utah Valley University, but she quickly realized cleaning teeth wasn’t the dream job she thought it would be. Shortly after moving to Utah, Ashley began to immerse herself in the local music scene and became more serious about songwriting and performing. She has loved singing her whole life but always talked herself out of pursuing it as a career. She explained that it’s easy to doubt herself and do something more realistic but there’s a side of her that has always wanted to take the risk.

Follow Ashley on her journey as she attempts to become the next American Idol.