Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan [ tickets ], who started singing when she was five, lost her first record deal when she was 16. About four years later, she moved forward and braved the industry waters once again to sign with J Records, this time to find success with her album "Fearless."

"My story with being dropped and being put down and all of that, it takes a very fearless person to come up from that and say, 'This is not the end. I decide my future,'" the 21-year-old said during an interview with LiveDaily. "Another reason [I named my album 'Fearless'] is, musically, I wasn't afraid to go to different places, even with the first single, 'Need U Bad.' With it being a reggae track, it was quite different from everything else that was being played on the radio. I wasn't scared to take that chance and stand out and be different."

Sullivan admitted she was a little hesitant to release such a wide-ranging album that also includes the flamenco-flavored "Bust Your Windows" and the soulful standout "In Love With Another Man."

"I didn't know how people would respond to it," explained Sullivan, who last toured with Maxwell. "I had to be true to myself first and I've been influenced by a lot of different styles of music, not just R&B or your typical R&B. I wanted that to be represented on my first album. It was scary at times because you don't know how people are going to react to it, but you must first be true to yourself."

Sullivan explained it was also scary when she was dropped from Jive Records, the home to Britney Spears, David Archuleta and the Backstreet Boys.

"I had the full project done, first and second single and then they called it off," Sullivan said. "It was heartbreaking. But I had to learn from my mistakes and keep it moving. I never let it get me down. It took awhile to get to this point, but definitely everything that happened I'm grateful for. I can't be mad."

Her "very good foundation"--her parents and her faith--helped her through the pain.

"My parents were always there. At that time, they could have been, like, 'You have to get a job. Adios,'" Sullivan said. "But they continued to support me and believe in me. My belief in God and my belief that I had a gift that needed to be shared with the world kept me going, kept me motivated."

She also had the backing of longtime friend, uber producer Missy Elliott, who provided some of the beats for "Fearless." As a trade-off, Sullivan will appear on the Elliott's next album.

"I met Missy when I was very young. I was about 14," Sullivan explained. "Ever since I sang for her, she's pretty much been in my corner. She started working with me when I was signed with Jive and helped that situation move along. [Jive said], 'There must be something special about this little girl if Missy wants to be involved in the project.' Even once I was dropped, we stayed in contact and I did the background vocals for some of the songs on the Fantasia album. She was the first person I called when I started working on this album."

The sole songwriter on "Fearless" and an executive producer, Sullivan was pleased to be nominated for five Grammys this year: Best New Artist; Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (for "Need U Bad"0; Best R&B Contemporary Album (for "Fearless"); Best R&B Song (for "Bust Your Windows"); and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (for "I'm In Love With Another Man").

"The Grammys symbolize people listening to your music and recognizing it and appreciating it," Sullivan said. "I was so happy and so honored to be nominated, especially for five. That was amazing. I've been in this industry a long time and I put a lot of hard work into my album. It felt really, really good."