Fantasia Barrino

I always tell people, 'Stop coming to me and telling what people are saying about me.' I don't care anymore. I always get the people that come to me and say, 'Girl, I just want to tell you... ' and I'm like, 'Nope.' ”

I was very insecure growing up, and even though I'm not that girl anymore, I think that the passion, that not feeling pretty and being insecure, is where my soul came from. And from early childhood, I let it free onstage. ”

I always say you've only got one life to live, and you're not promised a tomorrow. So, you might as well just have a good time with it. ”

I've never been in a competition before, and I said I'm going to go. I think - I just love to sing. ”

It's hard to be patient. It's hard to sit back and actually wait and allow everything - just let it be. ”

When I realized I was having trouble reading, I was too embarrassed to ask for help. Some teachers believed in me, but I just wasn't focused on school - I was into the music and trying to please my dad. ”

I seemed so different from other kids; I grew up in church and felt a connection with God, and a lot of kids my age really didn't understand that. ”

R. Kelly is different - music is always going through his brain. I remember we'd be having a conversation, and he'd choose a word I said and write a whole song to it. ”

It's always good when you can bring two artists together who are totally different. ”

I stopped going to church for awhile. ”