I have to always, always pay homage to a woman I never met but she touched me like she touched so many others with that amazing voice, Whitney Houston. The very first time I heard her voice, I knew I wanted to make people feel that way. Even if I couldn't do all of that that she did, the way she was able to tell my story without even knowing me, the way she could feel what I didn't know how to express, it was spiritual almost.

I think music is such an extension of who we are, and the fact that I've gone through as much as I have, good, bad, and ugly, has really helped to shape the songs that I picked.

Musically, I think I change music like I change clothes! What I listen to on a day to day basis is really contingent upon my mood and what's going on in my life.

There are a lot of things that come easy, but they're not necessarily worth it. Anything worth having, you work hard for. That's how I feel I am.

I just wanted to make sure I had the music true to me and the life I'm living and to what I really want to say. That's super important to me.

A lot of times people have you pegged for what you are, and that's what you are and need to stay in. Going from an actress into my true passion for other people, it may seem kind of backwards.

I have to always, always pay homage to a woman I never met but she touched me like she touched so many others with that amazing voice, Whitney Houston. The very first time I heard her voice, I knew I wanted to make people feel that way. Even if I couldn't do all of that that she did, the way she was able to tell my story without even knowing me, the way she could feel what I didn't know how to express, it was spiritual almost.