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LaShell Griffin will be the first to tell you she considers herself a housewife over being a pop star. After all, says the 36-year-old mother of five, there are kids to run to and from school, dishes to be done and laundry to be folded before she has time for vocal practice and songwriting. But since Griffin, of Detroit, beat thousands of others to win "Oprah's Pop Star Challenge," her time has been spread even more thinly. After taking the top spot in the eyes of celebrity judges Cyndi Lauper, Babyface and Alicia Keys, Griffin landed a record contract and quickly cut her debut CD Free. So, how does she balance it all? We wanted to know …

What was your life like prior to appearing on Oprah?

LaShell GriffinI've been a housewife and mother of five whose schedule consists of dropping off five kids every morning, dropping my husband off every morning, grocery shopping, paying bills, volunteering at school and everything that comes in between. Back in November I had foot surgery, and while I was resting and recovering, I was watching a lot of television and found out about the Pop Star Challenge. I had always enjoyed singing and I thought this very well could have been the chance for me to come forward.

How did you actually make it onto the show?

GriffinAfter I sent in the information, which included personal stats and a video of my singing, the show picked eight finalists. They called and came to my house. They stayed with us, interviewed us, went to church where I sang and then invited me to the show. When I got there, they showed the eight finalists a room of 15,000 tapes people sent in from all over the country. We were just blown away, very appreciative and grateful for the chance because those rejected tapes could've been us!

What was your relationship like with the other contestants on the show?

GriffinBeing a mother, I had that nurturing spirit where I wanted to help everybody. Everybody had that same spirit and we were all looking out for one another. We'd ask each other "Did you eat?" and "Do you need anything?" We'd give shoulder massages when moments were tense. We were able to bond, which in most cases, people don't see too often in the competition environment. The hardest part was dealing with the elimination process.

How did you cope with the stress?

GriffinI definitely had to stay prayerful. That was the only way I really made it. And I had a lot of conversations with others to keep focused. I came there to do a job and that was to win. Everyone had awesome gifts, but when you go in confident with a job to do, you keep control of your mindset. Everyone who made it to the next round was always very happy, but seeing people go was sad. We actually made a pact to stay in touch, and we've all held true to that.

In what ways was your faith demonstrated during the process?

GriffinIt was awesome. I wanted to represent God without bashing people over the head with the Word. I believe that your lifestyle speaks for you. The way that you speak to a person and the way you smile can say so much. You don't have to say, "I'm a Christian and this is what the Lord said." Your actions speak louder than words. Sharing my life story was a witness of itself and fellowship was key.

What was your interaction level with Oprah?

GriffinAs far as meeting with her, she kept it business, which I appreciated so much. What everyone saw on television was us meeting her for the first time. We hadn't talked to her before the show. Our meeting on stage was it. Just to say "hi" really blessed me. We were able to hug, she congratulated everyone and she left it at that. It wasn't like a personal time where I had time to share my faith, but there had been interviews with her producers that allowed all of us to share what we believed in. I believe at some point Oprah was able to watch the videotapes and see where I was coming from, as far as my belief in the Lord. I know she respected that, I really feel that. She's a beautiful person.

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