Ruben Studdard

“Because I gave myself - I left school after the second semester of my junior year to pursue a career in music. and I gave myself five years to make it and I made it in three.”

“I want to be around for a long time. I don't want to be a one-hit wonder.”

“My mother always taught me, even my dad, just never let other people's opinions of you shape your opinion of yourself. And I never have and I never will.”

“When one person does something that works, everyone else wants to do it. So it didn't surprise me at all to see people come with different versions of 'American Idol' and a lot of them are exactly the same but with different twists.”

“I've been blessed because there are a lot of great singers out there that didn't make it past their first album.”

“I never want to try to be a spokesperson for health and wellness because I most definitely am not the most in shape person in the world.”

“Dairy products are not good for a singer.”

“You know, Simon he's an artist representative, but Randy and Paula actually were in the industry as artists so they had, you know, the information that they offered to us from their aspect.”

“And I just pray that god gives me longevity in the music industry.”

“I'm always happy for people when I see God blessing them the way he's blessed me.”

“We became somewhat household names really quickly, within a matter of - what? - three, four months. So it's hard to get used to, and it's really sometimes hard to understand.”

“You know, I played football, I was offensive tackle in college.”

“I am comfortable with anything I sing: jazz, gospel, classical. It doesn't matter. I can do it all.”

“So I've never in my whole life really been teased about my weight.”

“I've toured the world with David Foster and all kinds of different people. It's been a great ride, and I don't think it's about to stop any time soon.”

“I think I look good. I think I look real good.”

“I have a greater goal - to empower young people through music education.”

“The only thing about my life that's really changed is the fact that a lot of people know me now. I'm still the same person.”

“I don't like to be a preacher or anything, but the one thing that I've learned is that you truly are what you eat.”

“I don't want to be a one-hit wonder.”