I was born on 2nd December 1981 in Kentwood Louisiana

My mother is Lynne, an elementary school teacher, my father is Jamie, a construction contractor

I auditioned for the Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Club at the age of 8. Producers for the show decided I was too young, but one was impressed enough to help me find an agent in New York

Accompanied by my mother and younger sister, I lived in Manhattan for the next several summers, studying at the Professional Performing Arts School

At age 11, I auditioned again, this time successfully, for the Mickey Mouse Club. For the 1993 and 1994 seasons, I lived in Orlando, Florida, where the show is filmed, in a dorm with the rest of the cast

Before the Grammy Awards, held in February 2000, I had emerged as one of the leading contenders for Best New Artist. I eventually lost the award, to fellow ex-Mickey Mouse Clubber and teen pop sensation Christina Aguilera.

My first single went to number 1 due in part to the video featuring me dressed as a Catholic schoolgirl