I would sit in the back at church every Sunday trying to hide, and just when I thought I'd gotten through the service without her [grandmother] calling on me to sing 'His Eye Is On The Sparrow,' she'd always call me up

I really wanted my music to reflect my personal life and what I set out to do every day.

If people wanted to fight me-because of my hair or because my skin was too dark-then I fought them

I always say, "When you know it's right, everything will fall into place."

I remember the excitement of being a new artist. When up and coming artists ask me like, "Any advice you have for me?" I always say, "Take it all in because you'll never be a new artist again".

When you're listening to my album, I want you to know that things happen and eventually you get over it

It is a fight and struggle to just be yourself.