Quotes

[on the Tony Bennett incident]: I followed my mind. Because at the end of the day, I'm in a competition and I have to go out there and be comfortable with what I'm doing.... It's hard for me to go out there and just sing it in a certain way just because someone told me to.

[on the Simon factor]: I know that when he was telling me that I was shouting, I could feel what he was saying. I wasn't shouting. He wanted me to be more confident and connect more with the song.

Singing makes me feel good. It's the food for my soul and gets me through each day and night. If I touch just one person who can relate to what I'm singing, then I've done my job. Music is my ministry.

[on choosing Carrie Underwood's Jesus, Take the Wheel, for which she sang on American Idol (2002)]: I had been struggling for a week or two, and I had lost my confidence. I kept saying, 'Lord, I know I can do this.' And then I thought about this song.... And I said, 'Jesus, take the wheel because I can't do it on my own.... And so, you know, it kept me in there three weeks more.

[on Sanjaya Malakar]: Sanjaya is like a little brother that got on your nerves all the time.... I could be like, just having a moment and he's jumping all over the place. I'm like, 'Sit down!' But I appreciate the fact that he trusted my judgment, he took my advice and that he also was there when I needed him.

[on her signature clothing]: I told him I like my dresses. And I'm not going to be wearing jeans. I want dresses. So last week, he got me into some jeans finally.... But I'm a dress girl; I love my gowns. That just kind of comes with what I like to sing ... ballads.

It's crazy, because when people call me a celebrity, I'm like, I'm 'Kisha. I'm like, I'm not a celebrity. I'm just me.

[About her daughter Brionne]: They're trying to make preparations.

[on Chris Daughtry, who finished in the same place as she did, the year before on American Idol (2002)]: Only thing I can say is, 'Look at Chris Daughtry.' All three remaining singers are talented and whoever's supposed to be the American Idol.

[About her future career]: I know that I want it to be a kind of sassy and soulful with a little inspiration, if that makes sense.

[on one of her songs she sang during her tenure on American Idol (2002)]: I believe that everybody wanted that 'And I Am Telling You' moment every week, and when you're singing different genres of music ... those styles don't necessarily have that big song that everybody is expecting every week. I think I did my best with what I was given.

[In 2007]: I know people were saying I don't smile a lot. It's not that I'm not having a good time, because I am having a good time. But I just think a lot and it shows on my face.

[In 2009]: I never thought in a million years that this would be a career for me. I've always wanted to sing [professionally]. But I didn't know that being on 'Idol' would open so many doors.

[Of her entire family]: I also think about going to church and singing. We always had programs at our church, and my grandmother would always say, 'Keesha will do it.' Sometimes I would say no, because I was shy. But the more I did it, the more I loved it.

I can actually sit back and breathe; I'm not worried about choreography or who's watching or am I gonna miss a step. You're just sitting back and getting entertained.

[When she wore a stunning green dress and almost $1 million in diamonds]: They made me give them right back after I walked off the stage. I think the diamonds had their own security.