An emotive singer/songwriter known for her heartfelt, acoustic-based pop, Anna Clendening initially came to the public's attention competing on America's Got Talent in 2014. Having already built a strong social media following prior to entering the competition, Clendening solidified her fan base after finishing in the quarter finals. During her time on the show, she revealed that she had overcome a serious anxiety disorder that had left her bedridden -- an issue she addressed on her 2016 single "To My Parents." With the release of 2019's Waves EP and its 2020 follow-up Evolve, Clendening's sound headed more toward tight, hooky pop with a moody edge.

Born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1993, Clendening began singing at a young age. At age 14, however, she was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder that initially kept her from fully pursuing her music career. Around 2013, a friend suggested she post a video of herself performing Sage the Gemini's "Gas Pedal" to the social media platform Vine. The video went viral, and Clendening continued posting more songs. Around the same time, her anxiety became so bad that she found herself bedridden after dropping out of the University of North Carolina. Determined to fight her illness, she successfully auditioned for the 2014 season of America's Got Talent, singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." During her time on the show, she spoke openly about her anxiety and garnered significant support, ultimately finishing in the quarter finals.

After the show, she continued to build her following online, and issued several singles including 2016's "To My Parents," in which she explicitly sang about how her anxiety had affected her life. She signed a record deal with Asylum, and in 2019 issued the EP Waves, which included the singles "Boys Like You" and "Bend & Break." A second EP, Evolve, appeared a year later showcasing her increasingly snappy, pop-driven sound. After the stripped-down 2021 guitar ballad "I Love Myself," Clendening teamed up with singer John K for the single "Love Song." ~ Matt Collar, Rovi