Birthday: Jan. 3 (she won't say what year)

Education: Walnut Hills High; graduated from New Life Christian Academy; Christ for the Nations Bible School, Dallas.

Best advice: "My grandmother always said, 'When you sing or you present something, don't just use your voice. Use your eyes, use your hands, use everything to convey the message.' "

Singers she admires: Cece Winans, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant. They have great heart. ... They've made mistakes. From those people I've learned, how do you treat people who are looking up to you? How do you do your best to love your family?"

On being a working mom: "For the most part, I'm going to be there in the morning and make sure (my kids) are ready for school. Because at the end of the day - you're popular one day and tomorrow you may not be. And I want to be popular today and tomorrow with my kids."

On being tested: "I've seen the good with the bad. My parents were great ... but I've been in abusive relationships, relationships that have been just heartache. It's just life. We have to decide whether to become bitter or better. That's the life lesson I'm still learning."

On race: "When God made the rainbow, he made it multicolored on purpose. He loves color, he loves beauty, and he loves variety. And he's never told us that we need to be colorblind. You're supposed to see it. ... Our color only describes us. It never was intended to define us."

Singer's Dove Awards

Nicole C. Mullen has won seven Dove Awards, the contemporary Christian music industry's top awards:

1998 - Song of the Year; "On My Knees" (co-writer)

2001 - Song of the Year; "Redeemer"

2001 - Songwriter of the Year

2001 - Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song; "Redeemer" (songwriter)

2001 - Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song; "Redeemer" (artist)

2002 - Female Vocalist of the Year

2002 - Short Form Video of the Year; "Call on Jesus"

Janelle Gelfand