editorial3@thomastontimes.com

Singing has always been a part of Ashli Marie Pritchett’s life. She began singing in church when she was just 3 years old and has not stopped since, now 16, she is a top ten finalist on the Season Four of Gospel Music Channel’s, Gospel Dream.

Gospel Dream is an American Idol-style competition that consists of solo artists between the ages of 16-40. Artists from all genres of Gospel/Christian music styles, including traditional, rock, pop, country and soul will compete in Nashville where ultimately one winner will be chosen by a celebrity panel of industry professionals.

According to Ashli Marie’s father Marc Pritchett, singing has always seemed like something she was created to do. “Ever since she could talk, she was always singing songs, pretending to have a microphone in her hand. She can’t speak well infront of people, but she has no problem singing.”

Ashli Marie thinks of music as a family affair. She sings at churches with her brother, Tyler who plays guitar and piano and together they lead a children’s worship program. There is also never a shortage of support from her mother, Stephanie who also sings or her father, who is the associate pastor at Mt. View Baptist Church.

“It’s really been incredible to see her go from Ashli singing for people, to Ashli singing for the Lord. In doing that God has built that confidence in her to sing,” said her father.

Out of the roughly 5,500 people that tried out for Gospel Dream, Ashli was selected to be in the top ten finalists who will compete in Nashville. There she will face the judges, Michelle Williams from the Grammy-winning group Destiny’s Child; one of gospel music’s most prolific talents, J. Moss; and one of the music industry’s most respected executives, Mitchell Solarek, who will decide the fate of her and the nine other finalists.

This is not Ashli’s first competition however, she has sung in many talent competitions over the years and even in other countries while on mission trips. She credits Natalie Grant, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood as her musical influences.

Now because of Gospel Dream, Ashli has been invited to travel and sing all over the country and she is currently trying to decide what she wants to do. After high school she plans to attend Hillsong College in Australia.