Leona said recently: "You’ll be surprised. There is a lot of ballads but there are some good mid-tempo songs. There’s something for everyone."
 

X Factor’s Leona hard at work in US - April 16 2007
X Factor winner Leona Lewis is in America and hard at work on her debut album, according to reports.

PerezHilton.com says the young star is currently recording tracks in Atlanta, Georgia, with Joss Stone’s recent collaborator, Dallas Austin.

As well as Joss, Austin has worked on hit records by girl band TLC, as well as with Pink.

According to a source close to the studio: "JC Chasez (formerly of ’Nsync) has also been in the studio with Dallas this week.

"They’ve been having a great time working together and Leona is really happy with the songs she’s done just far."

The singer has been steadily building a buzz in America, in part thanks to celebrity blogger Perez, who touts her every chance he gets.

American Idol judge Randy Jackson has also been bigging her up, saying that he wants to sign her to his record label in the US.

Leona in £5 million record deal? - Feb 9 2007
X Factor winner Leona Lewis has reportedly signed a £5 million record deal to secure her footing on both sides of the Atlantic.

A spokesperson for the 21-year-old today confirmed Leona had been signed by music svengali Clive Davis - the man who turned Whitney Houston into a global superstar.

But the press officer said the £5 million figure was "speculative".

Leona told the Daily Mirror: "It’s great news. I am just overwhelmed. I can’t believe everything has happened so fast, from winning the X Factor to coming to LA.

"It’s everything I ever dreamed of - and more."

And the singer has apparently been highly praised by head honchos in the music industry.

One American music exec is quoted as saying: "It’s like hearing the love child of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey."

The deal with Clive’s J Records will see the former receptionist record five albums for international release, her press officer confirmed.

X Factor judge Simon Cowell told the newspaper: "Leona is the best X Factor contestant ever. We’ll do everything in our power to make her an international star. I’ve always said that she is the next Whitney Houston and I believe it."

Leona will start recording her debut album in America in May. The albums will be distributed through Sony BMG, who she is signed with in the UK.

Leona to visit America? - Jan 22 2007
It looks as though X Factor winner Leona Lewis is on her way to America thanks to the show’s judge Simon Cowell.

He is launching a campaign to turn her into a superstar and is taking her to Los Angeles to wow industry gurus, according to reports.

A source told the Daily Star: "Simon knows that if Leona is going to become a world superstar she needs to crack America. So he has organised a small concert where Leona will perform a showcase of songs for a load of bigwigs.

"He thinks she’ll knock their socks off and they’ll be desperate to work with her. If he gets them on side, Leona’s future looks rosy."

Yesterday Leona was knocked off her No 1 place in the UK Singles Chart by Beirut-born Mika’s track Grace Kelly.