She won the third season of Simon Cowell’s The X Factor, and her album Spirit became Britain’s all-time fastest-selling debut and an international sensation, spawning two record-shattering singles. Now, with her emotional lead U.S. single “Bleeding Love” (the U.K.’s best-selling single of 2007) making her the first British female vocalist to top the Billboard Hot 100 in more than 20 years, Leona Lewis follows suit with a number one debut for her album.

We caught up with the 23-year-old diva winning gay America’s heart.

Congrats on your U.S chart-topper, but especially on your recent Oprah performance—that’s major!

Leona Lewis: I know! Oprah’s so popular and world-famous, everyone knows her back in Britain as well, so yeah, it was a pretty big deal. I was really nervous, but at the same time she’s such a lovely lady, so it was great to go on there and meet her.

Has conquering the U.S. always been a goal for you?

LL: Well, I’ve always had the dream to be a singer and hopefully be a recording artist. When I actually got the chance to do it, I knew I was going to release in the U.K. But when I was introduced to Clive Davis, that’s when the U.S. doors were opened to me. It’s been an incredible chance for me, really.

How has America been treating you?

LL: People are just getting to know me over here, whereas in the U.K. people will recognize me when I’m walking down the street. I’ll get the odd few people here. But it’s all great. I spent so much time here when I was creating the album, so it’s great to come back and share my music with the people here.

Dance remixes of “Bleeding Love” have been popular stateside for months, particularly in gay clubs.

LL: Yeah, the remixes are cool. I’m glad that they can reach people in different ways. As long as it’s reaching people and people are enjoying it, that’s the main thing.

Do you have a gay best friend?

LL: In school I did—a really sweet guy called Paul, who was really into music and acting. And my hairdresser is just amazing, so lovely and relatable. It’s good to have a team around you that you’re friends with because you spend so much time together. You need people you can talk to as well.

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Check out this sweet interview Leona did with KIIS FM’s ‘JoJo’s Top 9 at 9 Countdown Show’. She so adorable and this is a great interview, including a guest appearance by Ryan Tedder, from One Republic! Click the pic above, and then the link “Leona Lewis LIVE In-Studio” under the “JoJo on the Radio” heading in the “On Demand” box to listen!

America is “Bleeding Love” for singing sensation Leona Lewis — and “Extra” is singing her praises too! When asked about being the first British woman in 20 years to top the U.S. charts, the 23-year-old beauty replied, “I still can’t believe it, I’m trying to get my head around it, it’s such an amazing achievement.”

Lewis, the crowned champ of “The X Factor,” Simon Cowell’s mega-hit U.K. talent show, dished about the “Idol” judge, “I think of him as someone who’s guiding me in my career and really opening doors that would never have been opened before.”

Rumors that Simon bought a new house for the British beauty are not true — but after producing her debut album “Spirit,” Simon did slip Lewis a good luck gift. “It’s kind of like a silver charm bracelet, so he probably had some help!” she says.

Look for the lovely Leona on Simon’s other hit show, “American Idol,” on April 23!

Source: ExtraTV.com

Leona Lewis has arrived. The 23-year-old English singing sensation is making a name for herself in the U.S. with her hot new single, “Bleeding Love,� off her debut album Spirit.

She first hit it big in Europe after winning Simon Cowell’s British talent show, The X Factor. And now, in a first, Cowell and music-label legend Clive Davis have teamed up to bring her Stateside by jointly releasing her on their labels.

I recently sat down with Lewis for some one-on-one time at a Santa Monica hotel. We talked Oprah Winfrey, Simon Cowell and stealing cars. No, she doesn’t have a rap sheet.

You were recently on Oprah. What did it feel like to walk into Harpo Studios in Chicago?
It’s huge. My aunt nearly combusted when I told her I was going on Oprah. It was an experience I will never forget. And if I never do anything again, I’ve been on Oprah. [Laughs.]

You’re obviously friends with Simon now, but were you scared to death of him when you first met?
I was so scared, but when you get to know him, he’s a good guy. His heart is in the right place. He’s just brutally honest. He’s not a meanie. He’s actually very lovely in real life. We share the same interests, and he shares my love for animals as well.

You performed at Clive’s annual pre-Grammys party this year. Some of the people in the audience were Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Janet Jackson. How was that?
It’s one thing to be performing in front of people who know your music and sing along. But it’s another thing going in completely dry—a little girl from London and no one knows you and no one’s heard of me. I was just like, “Uh, hello. Hi there. I’m supposed to sing a couple of songs.â€�

What was the first big thing you bought when you started making some money?
I got a Mini Cooper. That’s the only thing I’ve bought, really, because I used to steal—well, not steal but borrow—my mom’s car.

Be careful. That’s how you’ll get in the tabloids—klepto Leona!
Exactly! Carjacker. Me carjacking someone! But I’d take her car for the weekend, so she was like, “You know what? You need to get your own car at some point.�

Source: E! Online

Leona Lewis, a fantastically talented singer/songwriter in her twenties from East London, started as a shy girl on Simon Cowell’s X Factor. Now, she’s travelling the world, meeting A-list celebrities and scoring chart hits. She grew up listening to artists like Anita Baker and Eva Cassidy and now has a chance to follow in their footsteps. Her debut album Spirit was recorded and closely looked over by J Records’ head honcho, Clive Davis, who was responsible for bringing us Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys.

Leona Lewis’s debut single Bleeding Love was the UK’s biggest selling single of 2007 and now she has become the third female artist from the UK to ever have a number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

EUT: I remember watching you on the X Factor and actually voting for you. Now you have the number 1 single in the US! How does it feel?
Leona Lewis: It’s really exciting. It’s unbelievable really coming from the UK and coming over here is a big deal, even having music released here and being received so well is amazing.

EUT: How has your team been helping you?
LL: I worked with Simon Cowell during the X Factor and then he introduced me to Clive Davis while I was recording the album and he’s launched people like Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys. He in turn introduced me to song writers that were kind enough to take the chance working with someone like me who is relatively unknown. Everyone from J Records has been really good to me. There’s me but there’s a whole team of people putting hard work and effort into it.

EUT: Does it feel different being in America when you’ve been in the UK your whole life?
LL: There are definitely different aspects but it’s relatively the same like going to the radio stations and doing interviews and things like that. I’m still learning all the time as I go forward.

EUT: Do people react towards you differently there?
LL: Not as many people recognise me so not many people come up to me when I’m walking down the street. I’ve only just been introduced to people out here and they’re still getting to know me.

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Leona Lewis continues her promotional tour across the US, as she talks about her new album release in the United States with ABC News. Click the pic above to listen!

British pop singer Leona Lewis speaks to Rap-Up TV about working with Akon and Ne-Yo, her recent appearance on “Oprah” performing in front of Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston, and her favorite “American Idol” contestants.

After a photo shoot for Allure Magazine, British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis talks with Access about her personal fashion style, upcoming album release in the United States, and the inspiration behind her music career.

Source: Access Hollywood

Leona Lewis’ life has lately been filled with what she calls “pinch me” moments.The 22-year-old Londoner had a series of them ever since she won ‘X-Factor,’ a British variation on ‘American Idol.’ Just 24 hours before speaking to us, she was performing at the Brit Awards on the same stage as Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse and other stars. Then that’s what happens when you have the most-played song in the world, the infectious ‘Bleeding Love.’ Despite coming off a big night, Lewis found the time to answer questions about the U.S. release of her debut album, ‘Spirit,’ meeting her idol Whitney Houston and her fear of spiders.

What was it like sharing a stage with Paul McCartney at the Brit Awards?

It was just amazing for me because I actually went to the Brit School, which is funded by the Brits … I got to go there when I was 14. And I’ve always wanted to perform there, so it was incredible. Rihanna performed as well, so it was amazing I actually got to perform alongside them.

What can people expect from your album, ‘Spirit’?

Well, people can expect a real melody-driven album and they can expect some big ballads, as well as some more edgy stuff like my single, ‘Bleeding Love.’ It’s just a mixture of all my different influences, and I think it’s quite a positive message throughout and a lot of subjects that people can relate to on there as well.

What are some of those positive messages?

I’ve got a song called ‘Better in Time,’ which is kind of about time being a healer and sometimes getting stuck in a bit of a rut and thinking that you’re kind of getting nowhere, but actually you are and it’s just about timing and waiting for things to get better.

What inspired you to include the cover of ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ on your album?

Well, I always loved the song, I love Roberta Flack, and when she sung it, it sparked something in me that just made it become one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s just the melody, the simplicity, and it’s so haunting.

What are the touring plans for the album?

There’s been no kind of touring plans. At the moment I’m just kind of getting the feelers out there, and people are getting a feel for me and my music, my sound.

Who would be the one person you’d love to tour with?

That’s a hard one. I love Alicia Keys; I think she’s a fantastic artist and that’d be incredible for me to tour with her.

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