Ayla Brown at a glance may seem to be an average young adult. Hold that glance for more than a moment, and meet a young, diligent, and aspiring woman. Driven by her own determination and core values instilled upon her by loving parents, United States Senator Scott Brown and television reporter Gail Huff, she has pursued a diverse range of endeavors. With additional support from her sister Arianna, her achievements in the short span of the last six years include; being an American Idol Semifinalist, recording artist of three albums, national and local performances, and involvement in numerous charitable causes. All while being a NCAA Division 1 Student/Athlete and earning a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Boston College. Now at the age of just twenty-three she has just begun her journey through life!
The Performer
Brown embarked on her Idol journey in August 2005, after making it through the tryouts of 135,000 potential contestants for the national acclaimed television program American Idol. Ayla performed through to the week of the top 16 and finished with her head up high singing a reprise of "Unwritten" for the show's thirty million viewers one last time.
Ayla grew up in the Boston area and has been fortunate to perform at many local functions, both big and small. Some of Ayla's most memorable performances include performing twice at Boston's Top 40 radio station Kiss 108 FM's annual Kiss Concert. Brown sang the title track from her album with a full accompaniment by the Boston Pops orchestra in front of an audience of fifteen thousand at the "Pops on the Heights" Scholarship Gala at Boston College. She performed songs from her first studio album, Forward, in a series of solo concerts at the Eastern States Exposition (or "Big E"). In addition, she has performed alongside veteran record producer, David Foster, at the "David Foster and Friends" tour, and country stars, Loretta Lynn and Darius Rucker. In 2011, she also partnered with Outback Steakhouse on their "Feeding Freedom" tour and did a two-week tour in Afghanistan, singing for America’s finest troops.
Outside of the Boston area, Ayla has made two live television appearances on the CBS Early Show and Fox & Friends, where she performed her own song "No More" and other tracks as well as being interviewed. In 2006, Ayla performed at the New York City headquarters for Billboard Magazine, and "An Evening With the Idols", with fellow former Idol contestants. Brown performed her songs live at Tourney Town in several concerts and appearances in San Antonio, Texas, at the 2010 Women's Basketball Final Four. She also performed the National Anthem at the championship game.
Brown has come to be known as "The Anthem Girl," as she has sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" at dozens of events. In 2006, she sang the National Anthem with the Boston Pops at the 33rd Annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular in front of a crowd of almost one million people. She has performed the Anthem several times for the Boston Celtics', Boston Red Sox, and for the NCAA women's basketball league. On July 4, 2010, Ayla performed the National Anthem with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra at the Let Freedom Sing concert. Ayla sang both the National Anthem and God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch on August 19, 2010 at Fenway Park, an honor that no other artist has been granted.
The Recording Artist
Brown released her first studio album, Forward, on October 17, 2006. Prior to the album's release, Brown released a physical double single, "Know You Better" / "I Quit," in September 2006. A review from the November/December 2006 issue of American Idol magazine states that "Ayla's voice soars through Diane Warren's ballad "If I Was a River" and shows us her chops and range match anything that's on the air today." Billboard magazine wrote: "An anthemic display of emotion, production, and power ballad triumph, with a chilling rafter-rousing bridge and chorus filled with inspiring lyrics… The beautiful 18 year old Brown is an artist AC has the opportunity to own." Forward's first internet radio single, "Know You Better" peaked at Number 1 on Idol Waves' Top 20 Countdown and finished at Number 12 for the year-end Top 50 countdown. Since then, three of Brown's other singles have made Idol Waves' countdown, including "Forward" (No. 1), "Falling Into You" (No. 7) and "If I Was a River" (No. 16). "Forward" was also released to adult contemporary radio in April 2007, where it peaked at Number 10 on the format's FMQB airplay chart and Number 34 on the format's Mediabase airplay chart.
On November 10, 2009, Brown released her first live album, Ayla Brown Live!, in which she collaborated with The James Montgomery Blues Band and The Uptown Horns over the summer of 2009. The digital album features six tracks, including a studio version of Macy Gray's "Come Together" as a bonus track.
On January 26, 2010, Brown released a five-song EP titled Circles. The EP includes three songs co-written by Ayla and Producer, Jim McGregor, including "No More," "I'm So Happy" and "Tonight." The five-song set also included a dance infused cover of "Absolutely Everybody" along with "Pick It Up," another original.
For the holiday season, Ayla contributed two Christmas tracks to the EMI American Christmas compilation album: "Grown-Up Christmas List" and "Breath of Heaven". The album was comprised of Christmas music by former Idol contestants and was released November 25, 2008.
Ayla is now working on her first country album. Her first release, "Goodbye for Good," is currently standing strong at #1 on CDbaby.com's Country Rock, Country Pop, and Overall Country charts (www.cdbaby.com/aylabrown). Eight fully produced tracks have been recorded at Starstruck Studios in Nashville, the studio of legendary country artist, Reba McEntire. Ayla is now living in Nashville writing songs and looking to sign a recording contract.
The Athlete
A few months after American Idol ended, Ayla went on to pursue a collegiate basketball career at Boston College as a member of the Division I Eagles. Under NCAA Division 1 compliance rules, Ayla was unable to promote her music career. As a freshman, Brown made her first start on December 31, 2006. As a sophomore, Brown led the team to its first victory of the 2007-08 season, scoring her record high 21 points with 10 rebounds. The 21-12 Eagles went on to make the third round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament after failing to receive an invitation to the NCAA Championship tournament, where they were knocked out by St. John's. For the season, Brown totaled 240 points for a 7.3 ppg and a .390 percent field goal average.
In her junior year, Brown finished the season as the team's fourth-leading scorer having played in 35 games, of which she started in 30. She averaged 24.5 minutes, 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. The Eagles ended the season at 23-12 overall after losing to Florida State in the second round of the ACC Tournament on March 6, 2009. Boston College went on to make the final round of the WNIT, where they lost to South Florida 82-65.
Brown wrapped up her senior year with the Eagles in 2010. A solid contributor in both starting and supporting roles exemplified her desire for success, both as an individual as well as for the team. Ayla is a tenacious competitor with an appetite for success that will carry her winning and hard working attitude into the next chapter of her life.
Prior to attending Boston College, Brown played basketball at the Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, MA, for four years. A two-time "Gatorade Player of the Year" award-winner, Brown became the 20th female in Massachusetts state history to score 2,000 points in a high school career while at Nobles, scoring a total of 2,358 points.
Ayla has been recognized for her basketball talents by Sports Illustrated magazine, as she was featured as the magazine's "Intern of the Week" in June 2008 for her wide array of activities in addition to her basketball skills. Additionally, she was featured on WCVB-5's "High 5" high school athlete of the week and has been profiled by New England Sports Network for its staple program SportsDesk.
The Actress
In 2008, Ayla starred as the narrator in the Reagle Players' production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice masterpiece Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Ayla performed in eight shows at the Robinson Theatre in Waltham, MA, alongside Broadway's Eric Kunze and a host of talented area actors.
Brown received high praise for her acting debut, as TheaterMirror.com described her as being "beautiful and statuesque" and that she "has a fantastic soprano voice which soars in all her numbers including the Prologue, Poor Poor Joseph and Go, Go Joseph."
The Daily News Tribune voiced similar praise: "It's hard to take your eyes off Brown in this show. She's a beautiful, tall, willowy girl who has an appealing stage presence and a lovely way of exchanging glances and flirtations with other characters on the set."
The Community Figure
Many of Ayla's appearances are for charitable causes including her performances in 2006 and 2010, at the opening ceremonies for the Pan-Mass Challenge. Her numerous contributions to various charities such as "Kickin' Cancer on the Common," "Buddy Walks," "Bella Rocks" and "Ben Speaks Louder than Words," reflect her commitment to charitable organizations.
In 2007, Brown participated in a photo shoot with Boston area celebrities including her parents and singer JoJo for the Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer's Association in which to raise awareness for the disease.
Ayla has appeared in concert at Fenway Park on multiple occasions to help the Boston Red Sox and the players with their charitable endeavors including "Life Is Good At Fenway", "Hot Stove, Cool Music," "Jimmy Fund" with WEEI radio, and the "Beckett Bowl." Ayla now offers her vocal talents and time to the organization "Songs of Love" where she is currently a spokesperson, as well as singing and recording songs for ill-stricken children. Ayla is currently featured on a billboard in New York City promoting "Songs of Love."
The Judge
Channeling her inner Simon, Randy and (most often) Paula, Ayla served as a celebrity judge for many local talent competitions. Her most notable judging gig came in the summer of 2007, when she returned to television as a judge for the revival of New England's own variety talent show Community Auditions. The show was broadcast on myTV and was hosted by local radio station personalities Jackson Blue (Kiss 108) and Lori Grande (102.5 WKLB). Brown also judged the 2008 and 2010 Boston Celtics dancers auditions alongside Celtics forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Last Comic Standing star Gary Gulman at the Roxy.
The Journalist
As a communications major at Boston College, Brown had opportunities to test her talents out in the field; most notably as an Idol correspondent for The Boston Herald newspaper in 2007 and 2008. In her weekly "Idol Thoughts" column, Ayla dished her opinions on the contestants' performances for the sixth and seventh seasons of the series.
She also tried her hand at being a radio host, as she filled in for Danny Ventura on MBR Radio's "Shales and Danny V. Talking High School Sports!" on August 9, 2008. Ayla talked about her time on Idol, her album and local sports, alongside Mike Shalin for the two-hour show.
Upon graduation and free of NCAA athletics restrictions, Ayla began appearing regularly on the CBS Early Show as a correspondent. Ayla highlights stories close to the heart that have social and cultural impact as well as stories about music and the arts. These segments emphasize the importance and impact music and the arts can have on children and young people.
Most Recent
As of late, Ayla lives in Nashville. The atmosphere has turned her affinity for country music into a love for the area, music and culture. The Great American Country (GAC) channel hired Ayla to cover the Country Music Award's, conduct interviews with fans and country music artists for the 2010 country-fest in Nashville. In addition to what is currently being aired, many more appearances are expected on the GAC channel.
The pinnacle of her experience in Nashville was the opportunity to perform the National Anthem on July 4, 2010, with the Grammy Award winning Nashville Symphony Orchestra. The performance brought down the house and garnered accolades city and statewide.
This June, Ayla had the opportunity to do three shows during CMA fest. Two of them were on 1st and Broadway at Wild Bill's of Atlanta and the third was at the Bridgestone Welcome Center in downtown Nashville. That same summer, Ayla opened up for Darius Rucker on the 4th of July performing a forty minute set in front of thousands of fans and spectators.
Numerous network television and radio programs have interviewed Ayla. Samples of the more notable appearances are:
- January 2010: Interview on The Early Show on CBS
- February 2010: Interview on The Joy Behar Show
- February 2010: Interview on ABC's "What's The Buzz"
- February 2010: Interview on Extra!
- February 2010: Interview on FOX News Channel's America Live with Megyn Kelly
- March 2010: Interview with Mark Ockerbloom on FOX 25 News
-March 2011: Interview on Back Talk Teen
Ayla is now touring with her newly formed band at venues nationwide. Her most recent events and appearances include:
- June-October 2010: The Verizon / Polar beverages summer tour
- August 2010: Ayla's country music debut concert at the Regent Theatre
- August 2010: Opening act for Loretta Lynn's 50th Anniversary concert
-September 2010: Opening act for Smash Mouth
-June 2011: Three CMA Fest performances in Downtown Nashville
-July 2011: Opening at for Darius Rucker on July 4th down on the Riverfront in Nashville, TN
"Nothing is gonna get in my way
No one is gonna take my dreams away
Nothing can stop me, I can do anything
No one can tell me how life is supposed to be
In the meantime I'll hang onto my dreams
And I thank you for everything"