Amanda Joy Michalka, born on April 10, 1991, is an American actress, musician, and singer-songwriter known for her work as one half of the musical duo Aly & AJ, alongside her sister Aly Michalka. Raised in California's Torrance area, Michalka's early exposure to music came from her mother, who performed in a Christian band. Following her parents' divorce, the family relocated to Seattle and then to Milwaukee, where Michalka and her sister began studying piano and participating in local school productions, fostering their passion for music.

In 2005, Michalka and her sister started performing together as a musical duo, eventually adopting the name Aly & AJ. The duo has released three studio albums: Into the Rush (2005), Acoustic Hearts of Winter (2006), and Insomniatic (2007). Their album Insomniatic achieved significant commercial success, reaching the top twenty on the mainstream charts in the United States and featuring hit singles such as "Potential Breakup Song" and "Like Whoa." They also recorded the track "Who You Are," which appears in the film Secretariat.

In addition to her musical career, Michalka has made various appearances in television shows, including roles in Passions, General Hospital, Six Feet Under, and The Guardian. She also starred in the Disney Channel original film Cow Belles as "Courtney Callum." Her film debut came in 2009 with the role of Clarissa in The Lovely Bones.

AJ Michalka gained wider recognition for her portrayal of Lainey Lewis in the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs, first appearing in the series in 2013. By the show's third season, she had been elevated to a regular role. Michalka also starred in the spin-off series Schooled from 2019 to 2020, further establishing her presence in the television industry.

In addition to her live-action roles, Michalka lent her voice to several animated characters, including Catra in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and Stevonnie in Steven Universe. In 2014, she and her sister filmed an untitled drama in Laurel Canyon, California, directed by Aly's husband, Stephen Ringer. Michalka co-produced this film, titled Weepah Way for Now, which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2015 and was later released on DVD and streaming platforms in 2016.

In 2024, Michalka participated in season twelve of The Masked Singer as "Strawberry Shortcake," with her sister Aly serving as her Mask Ambassador. She finished in third place after being eliminated in the semi-finals. As she continues to perform, Aly & AJ's recent single, "Take Me," released in the summer of 2017, marks their continued activity in the music industry and sets the stage for their upcoming album.

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