Artist to Watch: Ashlie Amber

Ashlie Amber, country music's next superstar and our newest Artist to Watch. With a sound that mimics country greats like Shania Twain and Reba McEntire, Ashlie is going to change country music for the better.

Growing up in Thorton, Colorado, she always had a passion for music. After the loss of her father at a young age, the up-and-coming star turned to music as an outlet to help her deal with her grief. And slowly that passion and outlet, turned into a career.

Ashlie started performing during high school at small venues and local talent shows, doing anything possible to get her name into the ever-growing country music world. Upon graduation from high school, she decided to commit full-time to turning her passion into a career. And she did just that!

She became a part of the esteemed Actors' Equity Association, which helps manage up-and-coming actors and musicians. For the past decade, she has been performing and perfecting her musical craft. Ashlie was seen on season 12 of American Idol and famous musicals such as RENT, The Avenue Q, and Pippin. She accredits her found success to staying true to herself, connecting with people on a deeper level, and 'keeping it real.'

Although Ashlie triumphed in theater, she vowed to remain true to her roots and planned her first headlining show. The breathtaking show featured Ashlie's signature talent -- singing. The show even caught attention in international waters, where she landed a residency with Celebrity Cruise Lines.

Upon Amber's return, people in country music began to notice her, including Grammy and Emmy award winner Jamie Tate, whom she is now collaborating with. Together, they are working to create Ashlie's first country album.

As a tease to fans, Ashlie Amber recently released her first single off of her upcoming album. The single titled, "Almost Love" can be found on Spotify and Apple Music. The single has over 40,000 streams on Spotify alone, showing the power Ashlie's voice has.

It's Ashlie Amber’s goal to become one of the first black female country stars to have top 40 success and beyond. She believes it will help pave the way for a new generation of music and open-minded thinking in the industry.

Make sure and stay tuned to Ashlie Amber’s endeavors this year and follow her at AshlieAmber.com, Instagram (@ashlieamberofficial) and Twitter (@ashlieamber) for the most up to date information.

As always, follow @kbpopculture on social media for all the artists you NEED to know about!