Ashley Howard Nelson holds a BS in health and human performance from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She is the coauthor, along with her sister, Korie Robertson, of the inspirational gift book Hugs to Brighten Your Day. Originally from West Monroe, Louisiana, she and her husband, Jay, have ventures together in the travel, real estate, lawn care, and music industries and live with their five children in Madison, Alabama; and Nashville, Tennesee.