Frenchie Davis had an epiphany last year when she saw herself on the cover of The National Enquirer.

“They did an entire article about me being fat and I realized that hiding isn’t really protecting me from scrutiny,” she says.  “So I might as well go balls to the wall.

“I am not going to allow the past to scare me away from chasing my dream and going after everything I want out of life.”

First stop:  “The Voice.”

Davis — who made headlines 8 years ago when she was dismissed from “American Idol” – landed a spot on Christina’s Aguilera’s team and is prepared to sing for her survival when the show’s “battle rounds” air beginning tonight.

Preview Frenchie’s Battle With Tarralyn:

But first, we’ve got a few questions…

You said during your audition that you had given up on this dream.
Well, there was a part of me that had kind of given up on aspirations of having a recording career.  But I didn’t give up.  Obviously.  There are definitely moments where I may have wanted to.  And those are the times when you need to dig deep and believe that you were given the gift you were given with a purpose.  And you just have to keep working and keep trying to grow and hope that some day that purpose will be revealed to you.

Do you see this as a second chance?
I see it as an opportunity to perhaps go to another level in my career.  That is the only way I can look at it.  An opportunity to grow.  I definitely have been blessed with success on Broadway, but Broadway is not a recording contract.  So those two things are totally different.  And I would just really love to have the opportunity to record an album.

Not many people know you have a Grammy nomination.
The Grammy nomination was for a cast recording.  So it is technically the producer who was nominated for a cast recording of “Ain’t Misbehavin.”  That wasn’t for a Frenchie Davis album.  I just want to take the gift I have been given and reach my full potential I have been given.

You seemed a little surprised that Cee Lo recognized you.
I was!  Here is the thing:  I was on ‘Idol’ eight years ago for maybe two minutes.  And everybody doesn’t go see Broadway plays.  So I don’t take for granted that people on Cee Lo’s level will know who I am.   It meant a great deal to me.

How is the first couple of weeks of coaching going?
It has been wonderful.  Christina is kind of like a mama bear a little bit.  She gives insightful critiques.  I think that is what is really special about the show.  It is not a panel of judges judging you.  It is a group of fellow artists saying “Hey, this is how I think you can grow and this is how I can help you do that.”