Fantasia Barrino

“God didn't give up on me. I am somebody in God's eyes... Let me be a prime example of how I've been through the storm and the rain, and I made it over.”

“I work out every day, sometimes twice a day.”

“Working out started as something mental. It was a way to release and let some things go.”

“I'm very soulful. I grew up singing in church. When I sing a song, I like to feel what I'm singing.”

“People root for me in such a way that when they come to a show, the experience of not knowing what's about to happen is a great thing.”

“Have a little faith. Don't give up.”

“My lips are big, but my talent is bigger.”

“I never started out as an R&B singer. I grew up on all types of music - jazz, rock, pop, country, folk - and I wanted to bring that to my stage.”

“When I was a child, I used to dream about being onstage in front of thousands of people, and it happened. It's not about the fame; it's about people being touched.”

“I feel like a good mom. I'm a strong woman now... Don't look down on me. Pray for me because I'm trying.”

“I didn't want to be the type of mother where my child came to me, and I can't even help her with her homework.”

“I've been wanting to sing for a long time. I've been singing all my life, and I've tried different record companies, but it seemed like - it was such a struggle and so hard to get out there. So, I said, 'I'm gonna go on American Idol and see how far it takes me.'”

“I love Pilates, yoga, and spinning.”

“I've been singing in church since I was little; my grandmother is a pastor.”

“I want real love.”

“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'm a true country Southern girl that has always been built around family, cookouts and gatherings and being together on the holidays, singing together and laughing together. So whenever God opened doors for me to be able to travel the world and sing and do all the great things that I've done, I didn't want to lose that part so family first for me.”

“I wanted people to see me, to change their minds about me.”

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

“Everything in life is a fight. Everybody wants this microwavable life, and it doesn't work like that. I'm here to say, 'See what I went through? Look at me now.'”