LA'PORSHA RENAE

I have a lot of written material, and all of it's different. Some records that I have are country, some pop, some alternative rock. I just write what I feel, so I can't specifically say. I just want to be an artist of truth and an artist that stays true to herself.

I stay true to myself, my daughter. I just remember where I came from - I remember what I'm coming from - and then I remember why I do what I do.

Although all of us may not agree with that particular lifestyle for religious reasons, whatever the reason is, you still treat each other with respect.

Today, not to take away from any of the present artists, but music has gotten a little shallow, in my opinion. Everybody's talking about the same thing: sex, money, clothes, cheating... I want to open up not necessarily better conversations, but, in my opinion, more important ones, and touch on things that are actually going on.

Kelly Clarkson definitely reminds me of Motown. She's pop, but she's also very, very soulful.

Labels, boxes, and politically correct terminology all seem small and irrelevant when being compared to the violent and brutal attacks on the lives of people who are different than what society says we should be.

My ex-husband didn't like my singing. He didn't like my hair. He hated my eyes. Everything. Everything he complimented me on when we first met, he just hated.

I embraced everything that I thought would hold me back from pursuing my dreams and used my insecurities to give me the courage to inspire and advocate for others who possessed many of the same insecurities I had.

Everybody is a human being. We should be able to coexist with one another.

I really do think that getting the golden ticket for 'American Idol,' it's just the start of something really great.

I want to bring that old soul back, the meaningful lyrics and all of that. And I can't think of a better way to do that than through Motown.

I come from really humble people. We never had a lot.

My parents got to see all my hard work pay off.

I do what I do to inspire people. They can't be inspired by an ego, a big-headed person. It doesn't work. It doesn't match. And I really want to be that role model for people, for children. I want to be real. To my fans, I want them to view me as a real person. Don't put me on a pedestal. I'm human. I make mistakes, I cry, I hurt - just like you.

When people use their hurt and make a triumph in their song, that helps other people.

Anyone is welcome to hang out with me and have fun or sit down with me and talk. I don't discriminate against anyone. And I don't condone hating someone or treating them badly because they live differently than I do.

I have always been a reserved and conservative person.

I knew being a musician was my calling when I was 12 or 13. I started singing when I was six but didn't actually see myself being a singer when I was 12 or 13.

We don't have to have the same truths or personal belief systems to love one another and get along.

I found a belief system that worked for me, and I said, you know what, 'I actually do want to give being with men another chance.'

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

The kind of artist I would like to be is definitely versatile. I don't like being boxed in or put into a genre, so to speak.

Growing up, Tina Turner was definitely one of my influences, and, um, I take things from different artists, and I put them in my music, and I put them in my persona and my - they help me form into the artist that I am, so - for people to actually hear that come through the music is exciting.

I don't want to come off as one of those artists that's not down to earth and real.

My fans are so loving and encouraging. They're with me on good days and bad days.