I even have some stories of people telling me how that song has changed their life, how it got them through hard times, how it saved their life when they were on the verge of thinking of doing the worst. That just really amazes me, that that movie [Romeo + Juliet] and that part in the movie are still having a huge effect on people's lives today.

I've always been a fan and supporter of Prince. That's one of my inspirations.

I was 12, about to turn 13. [Laura Ziffren] pretty much knew she wanted to use me, so I just had to go and do the proper protocol and audition.

I didn't see that at all. I just saw everyone having a good time and everyone having fun [on set of Romeo + Juliet]. I didn't see anyone having any spats or disagreements. If they did, they hid it very well. But as far as I saw, it was a positive vibe. It was positive energy.

Everything going through my head was like, "Just last month or so, I was just flying into L.A. and things were just getting started with recording my album, and then here it is, wow, boom, here I am in a movie." And then with Leonardo DiCaprio! The whole experience was cool and that moment was so epic for me.

[Leonardo DiCaprio] is so cool. He was one of the coolest, down-to-earth people that I think I've ever met. I've never experienced meeting someone like that, [who could] just be so cool and down-to-earth and welcoming.

I started singing at the age of 4, at my grandfather's church in McKinney, Texas. It was called Greater Hope Holiness Church. My first solo was "Jesus Loves Me."