In 1991 she began using her mother's maiden name, Ashton, when she recorded her first single, in order to distinguish herself from fellow CCM singer Kim Hill.

On her eponymous 1993 release, Ashton was quoted during the recording of the album track "Heart Like a Rock, "I was messing around doing vocals and singing along trying to sound like an electric guitar.

There was so much fun stuff on all those records and they were all a reflection of growth and maturity and life experience through those years.

"[1] Ashton won the 1993 CCM Readers Award for Favorite Inspirational Album and a reporters poll for Best Female Artist.

[2] In 1994, Ashton, in collaboration with CCM artists Margaret Becker and Out of the Grey's Christine Denté, released a trio album Along the Road.

The title track is a remake of the composition by Dan Fogelberg, while the remaining songs are original to this album.

Garth Brooks would release his own version of Ashton's single "You Move Me" on his own album "Sevens" the following year, which became an international hit.

Included on this album is Ashton's cover of "Can't Cry Hard Enough", a song originally recorded by The Williams Brothers.

But the producers I was working with—who I wholeheartedly believed wanted the best for me—loved my Christian records [with Sparrow], and they were trying to emulate those a little bit.

"[1] Song writing for this album includes Kim Richey, Matraca Berg, Bill Mann and Diane Warren.

[3] Ashton widened her audience even further when, in 2000, she debuted on the PBS music television program Austin City Limits for their 25th Anniversary.

So I've spent the last year being a nanny, sitting, waiting and hearing what God wants me to do with my life.

Before I lost my record deal, I was asked to sing some demos for what would become a worship project releasing in England.

God had been healing me, growing me and helping me find my center again, and this seemed to fit as part of his plan.