As a singer and songwriter, I have great admiration for many of the budding stars who come to try their hand at performing and can relate to the hopes and aspirations of all the contestants, no matter how good or bad.

We live in an epidemic of self-hatred. I see it daily with people coming at me, and they do it to everybody, it's not just me. The hatred is really stemming from them not liking themselves. When you look at it that way, I feel so much empathy and understanding for those people.

I'll get into conversations with other people, and all of a sudden they will say something that sparks that... either the titles to me, or just the conversation itself will spark an idea for a song.

I know myself, and when you start to really know who you are, you don't question it when you read what someone says about you.

Keep on shining, keep on smiling, don't lose faith, and don't lose heart. When you're crying, just keep trying to remind yourself, you're a shining star, yes you are.

I grew up having to care what people think; it was part of my job.I've been built up and torn down, built up and torn down. It's been difficult to tune people out, especially in the las few years. Now i'm starting to care more about me and not what everybody else thinks.

My dogs are about unconditional love. It's so wonderful to walk in the door from a long day and all they want to do is be loved and to give and give.