I looked a little pasty. But hey, at least I didn't wet myself!

I felt like I got more comfortable on "Idol" when I just started being myself and not trying to be what I thought I had to be.

I looked a little pasty. But hey, at least I didn't wet myself!

There's a lot of craft that goes into achieving a hit song - at the beginning of your career, you're usually more inspiration than craft, and you get great when those intersect. A skilled songwriter can get you to that intersection.

You need to understand that a skilled professional songwriter can accelerate your success as an already talented musician. These people are writing every single day, so their craft is really sharp, and it's the best songwriters who consistently get on the radio.

Some of the best songs that artists perform year after year are ones they hated.

When I look at myself, I'd like not to have hair on the top of the ceiling.