- [From her book "Life is Not a Fairy Tale"] I like to go to the ocean and see the miracles that God has created. It reminds me of His power. He can do anything, like pulling me up from where I came, taking me through what I have been through, and bringing me to this point -- the point where I prayed to be my whole life.
- [on Oprah Winfrey, being her mentor] Oprah gave me a lot of advice. She sat me down ... Just, you know, how a lady should carry herself. How to manage your money. How to not put your trust in everybody. Just watch your back. But most of all, you have to watch what you do. You have to carry yourself in such a way. You have to just watch your every move and carry yourself as a lady. So other young ladies who are watching you will know this is how you do it.
- [on being sexually assaulted at age 16] And my mom comes upstairs and she says, "Something is wrong with you." I wouldn't even talk. She says, "Have you been touched?" I still said nothing. I laid in that bed for two days. I wouldn't even go to school.
- [on the judges who knew about Corey Clark volatile behavior on and off 'American Idol'] Judges were kept at a distance, with contact limited to maybe sometimes, after the show, they would hug us or say something to us.
- [on Corey Clark's restrictions] Let me tell you this: That house was like a prison, but a good prison. They have somebody who sits (and watches), and they had security guards working in shifts. There's no way you can sneak out because there's a gate around the house. We had a curfew. We could leave the house if we weren't working, but we had to be back at certain time ... or you would get in big trouble the next day.
- [When she dreamed of stardom] I would go in front of the mirror with an old, cheap can of hairspray and hold it like a microphone. I would go to sleep every night picturing myself singing in front of millions of people.
- [on her show that interests people] It's just the truth. Celebrities can be untouchable sometimes, but I've always given my story straight because I'm proud of myself and I'm proud that I can talk about what I've been through. People can relate to me. There are things going on with Fantasia that are probably going on with another family right around the corner.
- [on her success on American Idol (2002)] That's where I come from, that show opened a big door for me. I do feel that I have, music-wise and acting-wise, moved on, and I'm happy to just sit back now and give the new winners their props. I watch it all the time!
- [on her own reality show that dealt with more than family issues, that contained a great deal of laughter] You see good moments! I'll have my glass of wine, I still find a way to have a good time and hang out with my girlfriends. We only have one life to live and I can't let all the cares in the world weigh me down. I'll be 40 years old before I know it.
- [on her feud with her father] Me and my father, we don't have a really good relationship. That is something that's been out in the press and it's a very touchy situation for me to allow that to be seen. He's still my father at the end of the day.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content