I try to dress a little casual before my photo-shoots. I can be comfortable before I go into my... transition.

That isn’t about money, fame, or power. It’s about will, dedication, commitment, and knowing your self-worth. You can be poor as dirt and have those traits. Money can’t buy you values. You just need to know what is important to you and then feel secure in your pursuit to achieve that.

I like to have songs with me that have substance. That's missing from a lot of today's music. You might hear a song with a catchy beat, but what's it about? It's not empowering or helping anyone.

'American Idol' has changed the face of television.

When you hear my music and you feel the emotion, it's real. When you see me in a film and you see a tear, it's real.

I once had a crush on one of my teachers. I wrote him a love letter and stuck it in a bag in his office. I didn’t write my name on it, but I’m sure he figured out it was me.

It's one thing to lose weight, but it's another thing to eat healthy.