OKLAHOMA CITY –
Former O-Town singer and Broadway performer Ashley Parker Angel is making stops across Oklahoma this week, sharing how burnout reshaped his career and led him into the wellness industry.
Angel, who rose to fame with the pop group O-Town and later performed in productions including “Wicked” and “Hairspray,” said years of touring and performing eventually took a toll.
“It was an amazing 20 years as a singer and an actor,” Angel said. “Sold 10 million albums… and I did over 2,000 performances on Broadway alone.”
“There was just so much pressure and, yeah, burnout from living out of a suitcase and traveling around the world,” he said.
From performance to wellness
After stepping away from performing, Angel said he focused on improving his overall well-being, drawing on years of experience working with trainers and performance experts.
“I wanted to teach other people all the things I’d learned about physical health and mental health and emotional health,” he said. “As we know, it’s all connected.”
That effort led Angel to co-found High Level Science with cardiologist Dr. David Rizik.
What Angel says about supplements
Angel said confusion around supplements is one of the biggest challenges consumers face.
“We get marketed all these supplements and people talk to people all the time, ‘What do I take?’ So we’re really simplifying the process,” Angel said.
He mentioned ingredients he said are backed by long-term research, including omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10 and vitamin E.
“Our doctor, Dr. Rizek, will tell you most supplements are not backed by years of medical research and science,” Angel said.
Oklahoma tour stops
Angel is traveling across Oklahoma as part of a tour tied to a partnership with GNC, hosting meet-and-greets and promoting his company’s products.
“I’ll be at GNCs all over Oklahoma and surrounding areas today and tomorrow,” he said. “People can come hang out.”
What he learned about his health
Angel said his experience showed that even people who prioritize diet and fitness can still fall short nutritionally.
“I was eating perfectly and I was all on top of my fitness… and I still realized after getting blood work that a lot of my numbers were off,” Angel said.
He said stress, aging and environmental factors can contribute to deficiencies.
“If we don’t replace the vital nutrients that we lose… you’re still not going to get the things that you need to thrive,” he said.
A brief return to TV
Angel also recently made a brief return to television on “The Masked Singer,” performing in costume as a s’more.
“It was a phenomenal experience,” he said.
Now focused on wellness, Angel said his goal is to help others take a more informed approach to their health.
“There’s only a handful of supplements that are actually backed by science,” he said. “That’s our whole mission behind High Level Science.”