- [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.
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