I have a brother who has been overseas for two tours. I've been very fortunate that he has come home safely. Whether or not you support the war, always support our soldiers.

If you see me, I'm always wearing black and pink. If I don't have it on, I at least have something that's black and pink. For instance, like, a bracelet or something.

Because I came in second place, it makes me want to work harder

She's very active. My mom is my manager and handles day-to-day business to keep the DeGarmo machine up and running! She's a huge, huge part of my career and my life.

I have the easiest job in the world! It's an excuse to get up there, goof around and have fun.

I'm planning to be the youngest contestant in the Top 32, and I'm planning to be the youngest person in the Top 10.

At school my nickname is the National Anthem girl.

"American Idol" has done a lot for me. It's a stepping stone in my life.

I've been doing this sort of thing my entire life. It's my love, it's my passion, it's what I do day in and day out. I eat, sleep, and breathe music and singing.

My mom did a good job exposing me to different types of music.

She had a wild, wandering soul but when she loved, she loved with chaos and that made all the difference.

Paying the high cost of education is better than paying the high price of ignorance.

Essential to time-management is a change in focus, a change from being ‘busy’ to a focus on outcomes

I like to think of the world's greatest athlete coming up to bat against me - Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, I don't care who it is - and I'm looking at him thinking, you have no chance.

Inside everyone is a great shout of joy waiting to be born.

It's very difficult to censor anything anymore.

Our commercial bank [JPMorgan] is only in the U.S. We are serving what you call SMEs - small businesses, private companies.

Al-Qa'ida is the antithesis of the peace, tolerance and humanity that is at the heart of Islam.

The weak overcomes the strong. The soft overcomes the hard. Everybody in the world knows this, still nobody makes use of it.

To know yourself is the first and most important step in pursuing your dreams and goals.