Diana DeGarmo

My mom played me all kinds of music, from Ella Fitzgerald to Celine Dion. I listened to everything growing up, old and new.

I appreciate the level of professionalism and talent that I get to be around every night, eight times a week.

I'm definitely interested in acting. I've done it in my past. I know I can do it, let's put it that way. And it's so much fun.

I grew up doing certain little things in the musical theatre realm, but I didn't really understand that you could... make a career out of it.

It's been really cool to go to places I've never been to around the country and performing for people and bringing a fun show to entertain folks.

I worked at Dollywood when I was a kid. Then I worked at Opryland. I worked at a variety of theater things in Atlanta. I was also in a choir for two years where we did 'Annie' and 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.'

The New York theater community didn't like being invaded by reality stars - they still don't - but I got in there and auditioned just like everybody else. They hired me for 'Hairspray' to help sell tickets for a few weeks, but I ended up being there much longer than originally planned and started to carve a niche for myself.

I was friends with everybody. I never stuck to one clique.

I remember my mother and I sitting down counting off our pennies to pay our bills. We really had nothing.

I would love to go to college because you never know what is going to happen with your career, and you always want something to fall back on.

Snellville is a great city. It's a great place to grow up and live. I love it. It's very full of southern charm and wonderful people. And they've supported me greatly throughout all of my endeavors.

I love the challenge of singing something that's not that easy.