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Before I won 'American Idol,' I'd never been in a professional studio at all. I'm getting more used to it. I'm really weird, though: I sing way better in a crowd of 3,000. It's easier than singing in front of 2.

At first, I wasn't really keen on the idea of me being on stage having to sing in front of people.

'Idol' was more of a competition, and that was more of a platform that I wanted to get a hold of and get on top of. And I finally got that opportunity, and now it's more like, I just gotta show and prove myself to everybody that I'm not just the 'balladeer.'

I really don't think of myself as a singer. I think of myself as an entertainer, and the best place I do it is onstage.

If I went on 'American Idol,' I would definitely be kicked out immediately.

I actually started out on the stage as a singer.

I grew up always wanting to be a part of 'Idol,' and I never thought I would make it as far as I did. I was really lucky, and it's given me the opportunities that I have now.

I auditioned for a play in fifth grade, and that's when I knew that I wanted to be a singer and performer.

I never went on auditions because I would be terrible at it, so I just did stand-up.

I got to the point where I'd featured on songs; I'd done backing singing for major artists. I'd done all these shows, but it was always for other people.