By age seven, I used to comb my hair for performances, just pull my hair up into a bun. Granted, it wasn't a very intricate hairstyle. Still, to be that responsible and disciplined at age seven is unusual.

Another side to me is this very sexual being. When I look back on my life, it's always been there. It's been there since I was 10 years old, having the imagination that I had.

We all have the need to feel special.

When I'm feeling down on myself or not feeling good about who I am, or maybe something happened and I'm feeling depressed, I eat to fill that void. Afterwards I'll beat myself up about it. I regret doing it, but I'll turn around and do it again.

That's a part of me going back to what I used to do.

My first crush was Barry Manilow. He performed on TV and I taped it. When no one was around I'd kiss the screen.

People tend to put entertainers on pedestals. We're human beings, just like you. You may see us smiling, and whether we have money or not, we still have bills to pay, we still have our stresses. I think a lot of people want to focus on others' shortcomings to make themselves feel better. And it's a very sad thing.

Food has always brought me comfort and the bingeing is triggered when I'm in a space that is not positive.

There are artists, true performers that have come before me who have been a big inspiration to me. I hope I do the same for others.

Touring is very grueling. It's very taxing on the body and living out of your suitcase, going from city to city, night after night. It's a tough job.

I've never been one for keeping a journal, so my songs were my journals. They allowed me to express my feelings and let people know what was going on with me. I knew that somebody would relate.

If I wasn't singing, I'd probably be, probably an accountant.

Ever since I was little, I loved to eat. I started eating when I wasn't hungry. My weight has always been up and down.

I've never been into what am I going to do next, trying to reinvent myself.

You get used to working with one choreographer. You kind of get stuck in that vein and you work your way out of it, picking up someone else's style, their flavor. It takes a bit of time.

My concepts are never bright ideas; they're never notions I think will sell or be trendy or attract new fans. I don't think that way. All I can do is sing from my life.

I think people really connect with the idea of someone who's gained and lost weight in this very public way, and also someone who's an emotional eater.

I am not a religious person, but I am spiritual. But I don't believe in things like guilt.

I can be an emotional eater.

It has taken me most of my adult life to come to terms with who I am. To do that, I had to break free of attitudes that brought me down.

My parents are very competitive, so we are very competitive as kids. But it's a good kind of competition; it's not a jealousy. You always want to do your best, and if it can't be you, you want it to be your brother or your sister, you know what I mean?

People do see me as sweet and innocent. Not to say that I am not those things. But I have other sides to me.

I kinda see everyone as competition.

It's really about being pleased with yourself.