Bryan first met Ashley at a meet-and-greet before his concert in 2015
Credit: Courtesy Make a Wish
NEED TO KNOW
- Luke Bryan reunited with Ashley, a Make-A-Wish alum, 11 years after first meeting during her cancer treatment
- Ashley said she chose to meet Bryan in 2015 because his music brought her joy during a difficult time in her life
- Bryan called becoming a Wish-Maker a meaningful way to give back
Luke Bryan had a full-circle moment on American Idol.
On Monday, April 6, the country singer reunited with Ashley — a 28-year-old Make-A-Wish alum whose wish to meet him in 2015 was granted as she was undergoing cancer treatment — ahead of the live taping of the singing competition show.
In an Instagram post by Make-A-Wish, Bryan, 47, and Ashley posed side-by-side outside of the studio. The post also featured a sweet photo from their initial meeting in 2015 and a photo of her in the Idol audience.
"One unforgettable wish. One incredible reunion," the caption read. "Little did Ashley know… years after their first meeting, she would be seeing her idol Luke Bryan again."
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"Luke first met Ashley 11 years ago through Make‑A‑Wish, during her courageous battle with cancer. This month, that connection came full circle with a surprise reunion. One filled with joy, memories, and just as much heart as the first time!"
The caption concluded, "Moments like this remind us just how life‑changing AND long-lasting the power of a wish can be. April is World Wish Month. Join Luke and Make-A-Wish in becoming a WishMaker for more children like Ashley at wishmaker.org."
Credit: Courtesy Make a Wish
In a video shared with PEOPLE from Ashley's visit to the show, Ashley explained that she was 16 when she was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, which is a rare form of cancer that begins in cartilage cells. She also opened up about why she chose a meeting with the country singer as her wish.
"His music was always on in the background with my family… so I really associated it oftentimes with happy memories and good times in my life," she said, before explaining that she was really into Bryan's music when Make-A-Wish approached her.
"I thought it would be a unique experience since he was someone that I looked up to and was inspired by who he was to the people around him. So I decided that that would be a fun opportunity… and that's the wish that was granted," she said with a smile.
Recalling her experience, Ashley said that she met Bryan in a meet-and-greet before his concert at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. and her whole family got picked up in a limo from her house.
Credit: Courtesy Make a Wish
"It was the coolest thing ever," she said. "I'll never forget. It was the meet-and-greet in the back and the first two words that Luke Bryan said to me were, 'Hey darlin'' and I'm not from the south so I enjoyed that very much."
"He was so kind and so genuine and so sweet," she added.
As she recalled her story, Bryan slowly walked up behind her and caught her by surprise.
"Did we get you?" Bryan said as Ashley laughed in shock.
Then, Bryan said he's been "so blessed" in his life that becoming a Wish-Maker has become "a little way to give back and give smiles and pay thanks forward."
"It's really amazing to be in that scenario," he said.
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