Luke Bryan had a full-circle moment on American Idol.
The country singer reunited on April 6 with Ashley, a 28-year-old Make-A-Wish alum whose wish to meet him in 2015 was granted while she was undergoing cancer treatment, ahead of a live taping of the singing competition show.
In an Instagram post, Make-A-Wish shared a new photo of Bryan and Ashley standing side-by-side outside the studio, along with a photo from their first meeting in 2015 and another of Ashley 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.”
“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 ended by saying, “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.”
In a video shared with PEOPLE from Ashley’s visit, she said she was 16 when she was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that begins in cartilage cells.
Ashley said she chose to meet Bryan because his music brought her comfort during that period.
“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.
“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.
Ashley recalled meeting Bryan at a meet-and-greet before his concert at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. She said her whole family was picked up from their house in a limo.
“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 Ashley told the story, Bryan walked up behind her and surprised her.
“Did we get you?” Bryan said as Ashley laughed.
Bryan said he has 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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