Poet Ashley J
Ashley Montegut, also known as Poet Ashley J is a New Orleans native. Ashley is a Christian Spoken Word Artist and a published author of two books, Chains are Broken and Under Construction God’s At Work. December 2024, Poet Ashley J officially became a recording artist with a newly released album, Metanoia.
Ashley's journey began in a single mom (of 6) household. The absence of her dad left her with a heart of animosity. Unaware of how to cope with so many emotions, she battled with anger. Ashley's downward experiences lead her to her passion where she began to transfer her held-in emotions on paper. God gave Ashley the gift of poetry in her tween years. Early on, she did not identify poetry as her gift. She visualized it as her "Underground Railroad." Poetry was her escape route to get to a place in her life where she feels free. Chains were over her life, and she wanted to break every one of them.
In August 2005, her family encountered devastation during hurricane Katrina. They lost everything, which led them to relocate to Lake Charles, Louisiana where Ashley J was baptized at the Blake Street Church of Christ. Before the transition to Lake Charles, Ashley lived a year in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where she met her husband, Paul Montegut, of 12 years. “Her blessing in the storm.”
September of 2008, Poet Ashley J shared her art with an audience for the first time. What she thought was meant to be sacred, became words of encouragement to others. The reaction from the crowd opened her eyes to see poetry was more than her escape route; it is God’s way for her to reach His people. Ashley realized she was growing a deeper love for God through poetry, so it inspired her to write even more.
During these prosperous years, Poet Ashley J has had the opportunity to write for many events and share her work at numerous venues. So far, she has performed in 6 states and 31 cities. Some of her appearances were at the Monticello, Arkansas Branch Library, Black Heritage Festival, MLK Gospel Extravaganza, Black Excellence Awards, My Black Is Beautiful Gala, McNeese NAACP Formal, many youth conferences, as well as women conferences, funerals, bridal showers, baby showers, black history programs, class reunions, weddings, and more.
Obviously, God is allowing Ashley J to witness Proverbs 18:16, "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men."
April 2023, "coincidentally," during national poetry month, Poet Ashley J was chosen to be on the front cover of Zealous Women Magazine. The gift of poetry has not only opened doors for Ashley, but it gave her the space to figure out who Ashley is and what her purpose is. Poetry truly helped her discover herself. She was unaware of who she was completely, until she took a good look into a spiritual mirror and allowed God to show her that she is fearfully and wonderfully made.
Though her earthly dad was not present, God has always stepped in to be her daddy. He is her shelter in a time of a storm. No longer will she feel abandoned because she now knows she is not alone. God got her.
Poet Ashley J says, "I am too blessed to NOT express!"
