I am extremely grateful for my 'American Idol' experience, and I enjoyed every bit of it.

I think my songwriting has developed over the years. As I get older, I have become less afraid to share real experiences.

I was so fortunate to sing and work with so many amazing performers and artists.

People relate to you a lot more when you're honest and authentic - and that's hard to do in front of millions of people every week.

I think my entire songwriting catalog reflects where I was in my life at the time. I capture whatever moment I am experiencing in life.

My advice to anyone wanting to get into the music business, is always be ready to learn and remain humble.

My songwriting and overall approach to music go beyond just good singing and strong musicality - I want people, now more so than ever, to feel something and be moved somehow by the content I create.