When I'm picking songs for an album I always want a song that I can relate to and that I have experienced. There's nothing worse than watching an artist try and sell a song that isn't believable coming from them.

I'm always going to live in Texas. Texas is my home - it'll be my home forever.

I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It's the chubby cheeks. The whole reason people voted for me on American Idol is because I'm an everyday, normal girl.

I was on Ghetto Idol. We didn't have any of the stuff they have now.

And more so now, since having a family - I don't seek out any other acceptance.

I love dressing up and doing the red carpet every once in a while, but I am very much a jeans kinda girl, so it's all a little embarrassing for me.

The thing about Christmas is that it almost doesn't matter what mood you're in or what kind of a year you've had; it's a fresh start.