Ashley Marina is a 12-year-old singer from Pittsburgh who appeared on America’s Got Talent Season 15 in 2020. Her audition became one of the most memorable moments of that season because Simon Cowell made her sing three separate times before finally sending her through to the next round.
At the start of her audition, Ashley sang Martina McBride’s “Anyway,” but Simon stopped her after just one verse. He told her the backing track was too overwhelming and was drowning out her voice. He then asked her to sing something a cappella, so she performed “Opportunity” from the musical Annie. Simon interrupted her again, gently criticizing her song choices and calling the performance “a bit karaoke.” He told her she was bringing the wrong songs and that she needed to show them who she really was.
Ashley left the stage disappointed, but then she returned with a completely different song — an original composition she had written about her father. This time, her performance was emotional and powerful. The judges were visibly moved to tears, especially by the personal meaning behind the song. She received a standing ovation from all four judges, and Simon Cowell apologized, saying he couldn’t tell her how good that performance was. He called it “the biggest gift you could give a father.” Ashley got three “Yes” votes and advanced to Judge Cuts.
