Pittsburgh’s Ashley Marina talks of emotional 'America’s Got Talent’ performance that stunned judges

Hope you had tissues handy, because 12-year-old Ashley Marina’s song for her dad brought all of the feels Tuesday during her “America’s Got Talent" audition.

However, her journey to performing her original song is a different story.

Ashley came out strong but after starting to sing two different songs judge Simon Cowell was quick to stop her -- in his typical fashion -- and have her come back later with a new song for a second chance.

Given the performance, it is safe to say she came out on top after selecting one of her original songs, “You’ll Always Be My Hero,” written about her father.

“I picked that song to sing, because I knew I could connect to the song because it was a song that I wrote myself,” Ashley said. “It was really amazing because the judges really liked my original song, just something that I wrote myself.”

Ashley is believed to be only the second solo act from the Pittsburgh area to make it onto the “America’s Got Talent” stage in the show’s 15-year history. World-renowned Jackie Evancho was the first a decade ago.

Watch her “America’s Got Talent” journey with us Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Channel 11.

Ashley is a 12-year-old singer songwriter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and her journey started at a very young age.

“I started singing like I was around three years old, and it was just something that I love to do, just for fun, and then I started doing competitions and I really started to work on my vocals.”

“Whenever I did get this opportunity I jumped on it very quickly because it was like a dream of mine to be on a reality TV show or like, a talent competition that’s worldwide and everybody watches.”

Something she had always hoped for, but didn’t see coming so soon.

Her other talents include playing the piano, ukulele, and guitar, dancing (with Abby Lee Dance Company and Millennium Dance Complex), acting, and modeling.

Learn more about Ashley on her official website www.IamAshleyMarina.com and @IamAshleyMarina on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

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