Kennedy Township girl advances on 'America's Got Talent' with musical tribute to dad
A 12-year-old Kennedy Township girl sang a song she wrote for her dad and won the hearts of the audience and judges to advance to the next round of “America’s Got Talent” during an audition episode of the TV show that aired Tuesday evening.
Ashley Marina Yankello, who drops her surname when performing, earned thumbs up from judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel for her rendition of “You’ll Always Be My Hero.”
“It’s one of my favorites,” she said of the song, among 10 originals she has written or co-written. “It’s about my dad.”
What an amazing evening #AGT Thank you to my fans and to @SimonCowell @SofiaVergara @heidiklum @terrycrews @howiemandel @nbc @AGT https://t.co/wqoqVxIMXA
— Ashley Marina (@Iamashleymarina) June 17, 2020
At Cowell’s urging, her father, Mark, joined her on the show’s stage after her performance.
“It’s a pretty special thing,” Mark Yankello told the Tribune-Review about his daughter’s musical tribute.
The audition was a roller coaster ride for the family as Cowell rejected the first two cover songs Ashley performed as poor choices to showcase her talent. But the celebrity judges allowed her to return to sing a different selection.
Ashley Yankello has been singing since she was 3. More recently, her musical talent has taken center stage in her vocal studies at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Beaver County.
The two-hour bus ride is “worth it because it’s a really good school,” she said.
It’s also brought her recognition through performances in talent competitions and in recordings and videos she’s made available through social media and online streaming services. She’s traveled to Nashville for recording sessions.
“You’ll Always Be My Hero” was a song and video of the month choice on the MÓB Radio podcast.
Get the tissues ready for @IamAshleyMarina’s awe-inspiring song for her dad. ? #AGT pic.twitter.com/loGv84MFF3
— America's Got Talent (@AGT) June 17, 2020
Yankello continues to work on new songs. One of her newest, “Trust Somebody,” has an anti-bullying message.
“She’s got a couple more up her sleeve right now,” her father said.
Yankello works continuously to improve her vocals. As for any long-term career goals, at this point, she said, “ I like to go day by day. I feel like it makes every day productive. I hope in the future I can continue my singing career and use it as a living.”
Her talents embrace more than music. She’s had non-speaking parts in the Netflix series “Mindhunter,” and Sony Pictures’ “Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff Story.”
She also dances, models and plays piano, ukulele and guitar.
She has performed at the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh and the CMA Fest Nashville Spotlight Stage showcase, and has sung the national anthem at professional baseball and soccer games.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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