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.

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 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.

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.

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

Freedom is not a privilege for some but a right for ALL

A word carries far, very far, deals destruction through time as the bullets go flying through space.

I found that whatever interested me in life, I could pretty much pick up the phone, call somebody, and all of a sudden be in the middle of it.

What is life without the radiance of love?

They cannot divide us by saying that you're middle class or you're lower class.

I didn't want to change the name on the towels.

America cannot have an empire abroad and a Republic at home.

You come to the master only in deep humbleness, because learning is possible only in humbleness. You have come to surrender, not to perform, not to manipulate, not to impress.

When I've met people that work in any walk of life they say, "If it wasn't for punk I wouldn't be doing it this way." I think spiritually, it did change the world a lot.

Bless thy simplicity, Tess