Oprah: Could you feel her pain?

Norah: Sometimes too much.

Oprah: And I've read you were obsessed with Otis Redding when you were in high school. Who was popular on the radio then?

Norah: I wasn't very aware of pop music because I attended an arts school. For me, it was all about jazz. Everyone in my high school was a bit nerdy. We didn't even have a football team.

Oprah: That says it all! You went to a school that allowed you to create your own way of expression. When you're given that freedom, you tend not to care what everyone else thinks.

Norah: Yes, it was a great place.

Oprah: So what do you think of shows like American Idol?

Norah: I watched a bit of the first season and thought it was entertaining. And there were some talented people on the show.

Oprah: Do you think an American idol can be created through voting?

Norah: No. And in general I think this whole reality-TV thing has gotten out of hand. O: When you were younger, didn't you ever want to be famous?

Norah: When I was 10, I did. I think a lot of kids do. Then when I got into jazz, I left that notion behind. Five years after moving to New York, I probably would have wanted to get a record deal and become better known, but I hadn't gotten to that point yet.

Oprah: That's what the 20s are all about—figuring yourself out.

Norah: And I'm still doing that. Who knew I'd be figuring it out on my first record that millions would hear? If I'd known, I probably wouldn't have put it out just yet.

Oprah: How has your life changed since the Grammy Awards?

Norah: It's been a strange few months. I had that extreme high; then a week later, my boyfriend lost a family member. That snapped us back into reality, big-time. Now things are finally returning to normal.