Amerie at Lyric Culture launch party and runway show at Avalon. Hollywood, California - 10.05.07

Amerie insists she had an overwhelming urge to be a singer - outweighing the desire to please her mom.

Amerie, 27, says, "Mom wanted me to do something traditional, like be a novelist and work in the countryside,

"If you want something really badly, instinct takes over to make it happen."

Source: WENN