When I went to Los Angeles right after high school, I got some acting jobs, and I never, ever wanted to be an actress! Public speaking and acting make me want to vomit. But I have never been nervous singing. When it comes to public speaking, I stumble on my words, sweat, and pull at my clothes.

I sing songs that I have lived or I write them because I have lived them. I think the believability factor is key.

People like us we gotta stick together Keep your head up nothing lasts forever.

I'm very friendly or whatever, but I would hardly say that I'm that cookie-cutter. I don't live in L.A. or New York. I live in Texas, and I go to hole-in-the-wall bars, so there's no paparazzi there.

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.

Even though I hate acting, I love doing videos for my songs.

I've just never cared what people think. It's more if I'm happy and I'm confident and feeling good, that's always been my thing.