Kellie Pickler is a true renaissance woman. She is a country music star, an "American Idol" alumnus, a "Dancing With The Stars" champion, an animated movie star, an ardent and active supporter of America's men and women in uniform and a dedicated advocate for cancer awareness.

Pickler, from the small town of Albemarle, N.C., burst on to the nationial scene as a contestant on "American Idol." After making it into the popular show's final six in 2006, she was eliminated. Less than two weeks later, she signed a record deal with Sony BMG Nashville.

A few months later, Pickler's first single, "Red High Heels," was released just ahead of her debut album, the appropriately titled "Small Town Girl." The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top country albums chart. Her second album also debuted at No. 1. and Pickler has been delivering hit singles and albums ever since. Her latest album, her first for Black River Entertainment, is called "The Woman I Am."

As a former high school cheerleader and roller-skating waitress at fast-food chain Sonic Drive-In, the singer-songwriter definitely has some moves. But who knew she has the dancing skills and, well, the sheer moxie to win the coveted mirror ball trophy awarded to the champion of "Dancing With The Stars" (Pickler candidly admits that she didn't know she had it in her to even appear on the show, but more on that later).

In addition, Pickler has participated in seven USO tours to bring music and a little of home to the men and women of the military serving overseas.

In an exclusive HNGN interview, the multi-faceted entertainer talks about it all--including overcoming her fears, the men and women in uniform who are "true heroes," losing her beloved grandmother to lung cancer, her new music and more.

Pickler's Dancing with the Stars trophy is currently on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. However, the country star says she was hesitant to even participate on the show because she laced confidence in her dancing abilities .

"I had been asked to do 'Dancing With The Stars' for several seasons," she told HNGN, "but kept saying 'no' because I didn't think there was any way I could do the show. I thought I wasn't good enough. I really doubted my ability to do it. I'd never ballroom danced in my life and I didn't think that kind of dancing would be something that would come natural to me. I was terrified about doing the show.

"Finally, I came to a place of 'what do I have to lose?' I can just do this. I can have fun. I can work hard and enjoy it, and, who knows, I might discover something that I love that I didn't know I loved.

She credits a large part of her success on the show to dancing partner Derek Hough.

"Derek was amazing to work with. He helped me to discover a passion that I did not know I had -- a passion for dance. He helped me find a new love for dance. I would do the show again in a heartbeat. It was so much fun."

Pickler is currently featured in the new Veggie Tales movie, "Beauty and the Beet," which was released on DVD on Oct. 14. She provides the voice for the lead character, a sweet potato named Mirabelle, who is a member of a family band. Music-laced animated mayhem ensues when the family car breaks down on the way to their biggest show and they wind up at a nearby mountain resort.

"I was so excited to get the opportunity to work on the Veggie Tales film," she said. "I've always loved animation and I wanted to get involved in doing animation work. And, hey, I've been told that I sound like a cartoon character, so getting to be one worked out perfectly for me. 

Pickler is clearly comfortable in her own skin and, for that matter, she's completely comfortable in Mirabelle's sweet potato skin.

"I love the Veggie Tales movies. They are all so sweet and each film has a beautiful message behind it. I was honored to be a part of 'Beauty and the Beet,' and, hopefully, Mirabelle will be a recurring character and I'll be able to be her again."

Yet another passion of Pickler's passion is giving back to the troops.

She has participated in seven USO tours and is currently the USO's ambassador for their "Every Moment Counts" campaign, which invites Americans to join the USO in honoring and creating moments that matter for our nation's troops and their families.

"At the USO gala in Washington, we did a 45-minute set," the singer explained. "We re-created the intimate atmosphere that we incorporate into our USO tours.

"On those tours, we don't do the full band and lights and all that. We create a living room setting where it feels like we're bringing our show and a bit of home to the service men and women. We create this intimate atmosphere where I can talk in between songs, take questions and interact with the service men and women. We have fun that way, with back and forth banter."

Pickler said it is common on the USO tour to let people on stage and sing alongside performers.

"If someone wants to come up and sing a song with me, they can do that. And they do. If they want to come up and play guitar, we've had them do that, too. We just want to create a fun atmosphere that's personal. Rather than do a big production, I think the more intimate and stripped down it is, the more real it is. And people can connect with me on a different, more personal, level.

For Pickler, seven USO tours is not enough.

"We are now planning our eighth USO tour which will happen very soon. We always look forward to being able to take a little bit of home to our service men and women. This trip will be extra special because we'll be with them around the holidays. The USO is a life-changing blessing for me. And it is something my band, my husband (songwriter Kyle Jacobs) and I always look forward to being a part of."

Pickler does other charity-based work as well. She is a spokesperson for the American Lung Association's new LUNGFORCE initiative, along with singer/songwriter Jewel and television legend Valerie Harper. This initiative puts a spotlight on the fact that lung cancer is the No.1 cancer killer of women. This cause hits close to home for Pickler.

"I partnered with the American Lung Association over a year ago. It is another blessing that I've been a part of," Pickler said. "My grandmother that raised me, Faye Pickler - the one that I call Mom - took me under her wing. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with lung cancer back when I was 15. She passed away the very next morning after being diagnosed. It was sudden and unexpected. And I now know that sometimes we hit speed bumps in the road we didn't see coming. 

"So, joining the fight against lung cancer is a cause near and dear to my heart. And when I partnered up with the American Lung Association for their new movement LUNGFORCE, I was blown away by the facts and statistics about lung cancer. For example, I did not realize that lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer for women in America... Also, I didn't know that lung cancer was something that could be hereditary. You could have never smoked a day in your life and still be diagnosed with lung cancer. It could be in your genes. My efforts to do what I can to help fight lung cancer is important to me."

For more information on the American Lung Association's LUNGFORCE initiative, go to lungforce.org.

Pickler continually lends her active support to battling cancer of all types.

She has been educating the public about breast cancer since the summer of 2012, when her best friend Summer Miller was diagnosed with the disease. In order to make sure Summer wouldn't have to go through the hardship of treatment alone, the singer shaved off her blond locks with her. At that time, Pickler partnered with Athena Water to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and Athena Water made a monetary donation to the American Cancer Society in Summer's honor.

Pickler has now been selected by Athena Water as a celebrity ambassador for their Athena Warrior program, along with Amy Grant. Both Pickler and Grant performed at a special "Eat. Drink. Party Pink." event in Nashville on Sept. 30 to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In October, she released a special edition pink vinyl version of "The Woman I Am" to highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The proceeds of the pink edition go to Gilda's Club, a community organization for people living with cancer and their families and friends. The organization is named in memory of comedian Gilda Radner.

On Oct. 5, Pickler performed during the halftime show of an NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The show was called "A Crucial Catch" and supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Pickler next album is due out in 2015 and she said she is looking forward to touring across America.

"We are in the early stages on working on a new album," she said. "I've been writing a lot and listening to songs by other songwriters. So, we're gearing up to go back in the studio soon and have new music out next year. And I am really looking forward to that."

So, what would the songstress like to happen to her in the near future?

"I am so fortunate to have good health, good friends, a great husband and a good team of people around me. I really can't ask for anything more. I just want to continue singing my songs and being on the road with my fans. I am already so blessed."

For more about the talented singer/songwriter/renaissance woman, check out KelliePickler.com.