Kriti Mehrotra
With Netflix’s ‘Building the Band’ following individual artists from all walks of life as they audition for one another and form their own bands, we get a music competition series unlike any other. It is essentially a blend of ‘The Voice,’ ‘Love is Blind,’ and ‘The Circle’ since the groups all come together sight unseen before really fighting for a chance to walk away with the $500,000 grand prize. However, it’s undeniable that although the focus is supposed to be on the bands as a whole, Maryland native Alison Ogden stood out the most throughout season 1 of this original production.
Alison Ogden’s Confidence Shined Through at Every Step
From the moment 24-year-old Alison Ogden first appeared on our screens, her fierce and self-assured essence was evident in not only the way she carried herself but also her every statement. In fact, she asserted in her very first confessional that she only viewed herself as the front woman of her own girl band since she has the leadership qualities and is not afraid of confrontation. The truth is, she then backed this with her sheer talent with her beautiful rendition of “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande, showing off her R&B/pop style and the kind of singer she wants to be.
Therefore, it was no surprise when Alison ended up with 16 likes, which gave her a chance to form her own band. Yet, she had no idea she would soon find herself spoiled for choice. She admittedly wanted to be in the first-ever girl group to be formed in this competition, but she couldn’t immediately find her ideal bandmates and thus ended up networking quite a lot. This resulted in her eventually being torn between forming a trio with either those who share her vision, Elise Kristine and Haley Gosserand, or those who are equally unique, Mandy Rose and Cece Keating.
Alison Ogden Has Always Wanted to be an Artist
Alison had reportedly barely learned to talk when she developed a deep passion for music, driving her to declare that she wanted to be on ‘American Idol’ when she was merely 2½ years old. Little did she know her family would be so supportive that they would give her the confidence to start writing her own songs at age 5 and then ultimately move to Nashville, Tennessee, after school. It was here that she really kickstarted her career by staying true to herself as well as her biggest inspirations, including Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and many more.
Alison actually released her debut single “Loving Me” on February 12, 2021, not long after which she made the big move to Los Angeles, California, in the hopes of furthering her career. This actually worked since she was soon modeling for local brands, gaining exposure, releasing her second single “Sweetest Sound” on January 21, 2023, and auditioning for ‘American Idol’ season 21. Unfortunately, this part-time waitress’ rendition of “I’ll Never Love Again” by Lady Gaga didn’t air, but she did secure the Golden Ticket after getting a standing ovation from all three judges.
In fact, as per Alison’s account, they complimented not only her choice of song but also her style, talent, and tone, which was just the cherry on top for her as she realized her childhood dream. However, despite her experience as a former competitive dancer, which taught her how to face adversity as well as the significance of hard work, she was sadly eliminated during Hollywood Week. However, it is imperative to note that she formed some lifelong friendships and earned a lot of exposure from this experience, enabling her to establish a presence online as a rising influencer.
Alison Ogden Continues to Thrive as an Artist
Thanks to Alison’s stint on ‘American Idol,’ where she also first met her fellow ‘Building the Band’ castmates Malik Heard and Vibi, she was able to launch her own merch store in April 2023. Mere days later, on April 28, 2023, she released her 3rd ever single, “Too Close,” through which she actually pays homage to her love for the upbeat music of the 1980s while still remaining current. She then modeled for brands like Kulani Kinis, covered songs by Fleetwood Mac, Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, Olivia Newton-John, Sabrina Carpenter, Christina Aguilera, and more to showcase her range and interests, and continued building a brand that is true to her confident, sassy, hopeless romantic self.
Alison’s 4th single, “What Can I Say,” came out on February 23, 2024, following which she released “Hitman” on May 31, 2024, and began planning for her future in the music industry. From what we can tell, Alison’s attempt to form a girl band didn’t really work out in the long run since she has evidently been working on a lot of solo stuff over the past couple of years. We say this because after she announced her most recent single, “Sweet Surrender,” on February 28, 2025, she made it clear that she has her first set of music videos, an actual debut album, and much more coming. We honestly can’t wait to see what she has planned next.
Apart From Music, Alison Ogden’s Priorities are Her Health, Loved Ones, and Travel
Considering the fact that Alison credits her kind, supportive family for her unwavering confidence and where she proudly stands today, it’s no surprise that they are all extremely close. In fact, whether it be her mother Michelle, her father Ryan, or her younger sister Kristen, the 25-year-old is truly in awe of them, and she does her best to spend as much time with them as possible. Whenever events like college graduations, weddings, or the holidays are coming up, it seems like she makes sure to clear her schedule for at least a couple of weeks to spend quality time in a way that fills every one of their deep-rooted emotional needs.
As for Alison’s health, over the past few years, she has admittedly really been prioritizing her mental as well as physical needs so as to grow and be the best version of herself that she can be. She does so by having “me time,” journaling, exercising, and practicing affirmations, gratefulness, mindfulness, and meditation in a way that helps her get to know her inner self. Furthermore, she makes sure to have a work-life balance, which is where her love for attending concerts of her favorite artists or music festivals like Coachella and her passion for travel also come into play. We specify travel because whether it be Colorado, New York, France, Germany, Italy, or the Dominican Republic, this Los Angeles resident has been everywhere in the past couple of years alone.
Read More: Where is Netflix’s Building the Band Filmed?
