Quote

I just couldn't get anyone to sing my songs, so I had to sing my own tunes.

I realised when I sang at family parties and Christmases I'd suddenly get everyone's attention, and, being the youngest of three, I thought what a brilliant attention-seeking ploy it was.

I knew people liked me on 'American Idol,' but I didn't think they'd care to come see me sing at my own show.

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

I didn't really have an agenda for my talent. I just wanted to be able to sing.

I just didn't make music that you could sing with a big grin, still don't.

People used to say nobody can sing my songs but me - they're too personal.

I never tried to sing like anybody else, fortunately I didn't sound like anybody else. It just happened.

I think I hid my singing talent from a lot of my friends at school because I didn't want to alienate anyone. If everyone was singing along in the car to a Madonna song, I didn't join in because when we're younger we're afraid of sticking out or showing off, when in fact we should own those things that make us really unique.

I've never done anything so political before. I've spent years shouting my mouth off about serious issues over dinner tables but never really had the confidence to express my views in a song.