A lot of people behind the scenes were telling me that I was going to have to do something with my hair, my weight, all of that stuff.

A lot of the former Idols were voting for me, and that makes me feel really good.

People say a lot of hurtful things, but in a way, the abuse that I endured from my husband prepared me for that. The things I had been told and drilled into my head from him were worse than what anybody could say to me.

Now I'm going to show a side of me I haven't shown before. I'm going to be fierce.

A lot of people I guess, well, some people change when they get in spotlights and everything, but you can take the girl out of Mississippi, but you can't take Mississippi out the girl!

When people ask me a personal question, I answer it in a personal way. I can only speak from the footsteps and the shoes that I've walked in.