Q: You have some experience firsthand with bullying. What can you tell me about it?

Yeah, I think that everybody has in one way or another. I’ve been bullied, and I’ve seen it happen to others. It happens so much. I think people really just have to be nice to one another. When you’re young you’re trying to find yourself and while it might make you feel good to bring someone else down, that’s not going to work. Young people can be mean at times, but I just encourage everyone to be nice to people because you never really know how much you might be hurting someone else. That person could be like going home and crying in their room. Like, they might put on a front at school and they might seem strong but inside these people are really hurting. So that seems sad to me.

Q: What should kids do?

If you see something happen, you have to tell someone. If you don’t, you’re just as bad as the person who’s doing the bullying.

Q: You’re donating money from your new Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe to charity?

Yes. Some of the proceeds from Under the Mistletoe will be going to charity that’s real exciting for me and especially that it’s for a Christmas album, so it’s really special.

Q: What’s your favorite Christmas memory?

My favorite Christmas memory is probably when I got my first two wheeler bike. It was red and I remember getting it. It was about my favorite Christmas present.

Q: What’s the best gift that you’ve ever given?

The best gift that I’ve ever given to somebody….I got my grandparents a car last Christmas, and I thought that was really special.

Q: What kind of car?

It was an SUV. I don’t know, I forget what kind it was. A Buick I think.

Q: What’s on your wish list this year?

I don’t really have a wish list. My wish list is just to be with my family, that’s about it. Just to be with my family.

Q: Do you have traditions that you look forward to doing. What will you be doing this year?

This year I’m going to be spending Christmas with my family, like every year. We always get together and we play games and exchange presents and just generally laugh a lot and have a good time. My grandma cooks.

Q: How did you get this collection of musicians together for Under The Mistletoe?

Well, they are all people I know and that wanted to be a part of the projects. Usher is my mentor and he’s been around so he definitely wanted to be on the album with me. Also, Boys II Men, they were in my movie Never Say Never, so they were very comfortable with doing it

Q: You also have your next studio album coming out in the not too distant future. Is there anything you can say about that?

The album is coming out probably February or March. It’s really exciting because I haven’t put out an album in a while, so people are going to be really excited about it hopefully.

Q: I read that it was influenced a little by Justin Timberlake’s sound, is that correct?

I think that was a rumour. But no, we are actually going with my own sound. I love Justin, so that’s not anything bad to him.

Q: You’ve achieved so much professionally at such a young age, what are your personal goals? What would you like to achieve?

My personal goals are hopefully that I’ll be able to win a Grammy someday. If not then whatever, but hopefully.

Q: I read in a newspaper you’re more influential than Obama or the Dali Llama. How do you feel when you read that kind of stuff?

I think it’s kind of amusing to think that but I don’t think that’s true. I think Obama and the Dali Llama, they are very powerful people and if I am able to influence people in a positive way sometimes then I’ll be lucky.

Q: What else would you like to do? Your movie did really well all over the world. Is acting something that you’d like to move into?

Yes, I mean I like acting a lot, but it’s something that I like being able to play, a character that’s not me, so that’s always fun.

Q: Who would you like to play you in a movie?

Nobody. I don’t want anybody to play me.

Q: So what kinds of things do you like doing in your spare time?

I like playing sports. I’m an athlete, so I’ve been playing sports ever since I was really young, so I love basketball, hockey, soccer…

Q: How do you deal with all the crazy fans?

Crazy fans? My fans are very inspiring, for them to be so persistent and so driven, is something that I wish I had.

Q: If your career hadn’t taken off, do you think you would have gone on to study or what do you think you would have done?

I don’t know. Like, I wasn’t good in school, well, I was okay in school, but I was not great, like A’s. I was like Bs and Cs, so I like wasn’t really focused. I’m glad that this worked out (laughs)

Q: Did you have a favorite subject?

I liked math, I liked English, but like recently math got so hard that I hated math.

Q: Is it true you released a line of nail polish? How did that idea come about?

(laughs) It’s for charity. It’s not really ‘my nail polish line,’ it’s like inspired by my music, so we have the purple one called, Never Say Never, that kind of thing. It’s for all the girl fans.

Ends