Life Examined

Original Airdate: January 21, 2008

Host: Scott Dente

Discover what it's like to go from the bottom to the top in this episode as multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Ashley Cleveland candidly shares her journey from addiction to recovery and how her faith guided her along the way. Also included in this episode are facts about Ashley's musical background and, of course, live performances from this groundbreaking Christian artist.

Guest Bios

Ashley Cleveland / www.ashleycleveland.com

In a music scene overpopulated by breathy girls and melismatic vamps, Cleveland is that rare thing—a woman who sings like a woman. A woman with grit and passion. A woman who's not afraid to follow her longings into places both light and dark. Yes, she can roar and wail with maximum soul wattage (her voice inspires regular comparisons to locomotives and hurricanes). But she can also be soft, tender, sly, wistful, open-hearted, melancholy, wise, seductive, wry - all those facets that make a vocalist deep and compelling. And whether she's delivering a regretful ballad or a mighty rocker, she connects emotionally with a strength and clarity that would make Cingular jealous. It's that emotional connection - a combo of Ashley's natural wonder of a voice and fierce songwriting talent—that has been thrilling listeners since her debut in 1991. Blending rock, blues, gospel and folk with her distinct open-tuned guitar playing, she has forged an unmistakable sound that has won her two Grammy Awards, three Dove Awards, a place on countless year-end Top Ten lists and a legion of devoted fans.

Beyond her own career, Ashley is also one of Nashville's most in-demand session singers, having performed on over 300 albums, for artists including Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Jars Of Clay, Don Henley, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Delbert McClinton, Etta James, Rodney Crowell, Pam Tillis, Patty Smith and Michael MacDonald. A spokesperson for SHARE (Songs of Hope And Recovery for Everyone), Ashley also regularly performs at national events focused on addiction recovery.