Monday, Nov 10, 2008 -- the eve of Veteran's Day. It's been a long day of glam prep plus the two-hour drive from Westchester to NYC. Now I'm pulling up to the Glamour Women of The Year Awards at Carnegie Hall, NYC with my compact out, making sure my red carpet game is on. "T-Shirt" is coincidentally playing on Z100 as the driver pulls up, nodding his head singing along, not even knowing he's driving the singer of that song! That's when he asks, "So are you a singer?" I laugh and say, "that's my song you're enjoying so much!" He was slightly embarrassed, but more excited than anything. We talked a little bit about how my life has changed since getting my record deal with Universal Motown Records. "Drastically!" I told him.

My publicists come to get me as soon as the carpet and press are all set up and ready. I'm first on the carpet and my black Jovani chain-linked halter dress is getting a lot of attention and compliments fly my way from everyone I pass. I'm feeling good now. Lights, camera, action! "Shontelle, Shontelle look this way! Perfect! Beautiful! Who's the dress by? It's amazing. Look up, Shontelle, show us your neck!" -- click, click, flash! -- "Over here Shontelle! Over the shoulder!" I'm all smiles as I work the red carpet. Wow! My vision is temporarily blurred from the bright lights and flashing. "Careful Shon, take your time," I'm thinking to myself. OK, cool I made it. Now all I gotta do is walk inside. But, oh no was I wrong. Trapped by the papz on the outside! "Shontelle, how do you feel about your single doing so well? Talk to us! Over here." Click, flash! Blind again! I hang with them for a few minutes and then my publicists hustle me inside.

Chilling in the VIP lounge. It's cocktail hour. I'm in awe of all the fabulous honorees of the night in all their GLAMOUR. Pun intended. We're ushered to our seats and I watch in amazement as Tyra Banks, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Condoleezza Rice, and Barbara Walters pass right by me and take their seats. I can't believe I'm in the same space. I'm breathing the same air. I'm just feeling so good right now. I know it's gonna be a fabulous event. There's a lot of buzz about a big secret. A very special guest is rumored to be attending tonight, but no one knows who yet. At least most of us pretend not to!

It's showtime! Fergie opens the show with a breathtaking rendition of her hit, "Finally." Flawless and Fergalicious, as always. After her song, she introduces a video montage featuring two of my favorites, Alicia Keys and Whoopi Goldberg. Natalie Portman, Kate Bosworth, Mayor Bloomberg, Tyra, Kara Walker, Barbara Walters, Condi, 30 Rock stars Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer (they were hilarious), Misty May-Treanor (on crutches), Kerri Walsh, Katie Couric, 10-year-old child bride Najood Ali and lawyer Shada Nasser, both from Yemen, who together fought for a divorce from an abusive man three times Najood's age and won, America Ferrera (who introduced a touching video homage to the troops by new First Lady Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain), Debra Messing, Jane Goodall, new mom Nicole Kidman, Mary Steenburgen, David Cook, who played his guitar and sang for Hilary Clinton (Hilary later joked that David received more votes than she did!) all graced the stage in all their splendor. (Make sure you grab this edition of Glamour for more details on who won awards and why. It's fantastic! I love Glamour mag myself because they keep it real and keep ME real.) Many touching acceptance speeches and introductions were made and oh, what a wonderful night it was. I laughed, I cried, I pondered and wondered, "Will it ever be me some day up there? Will I ever receive such acclaim?" For now, I will just concentrate on the fact that it is now 10 p.m. and it will be another two hours before I am inside my house again.

Time to pack for my trip to Houston! I'm pumping with adrenaline. So excited! I'm playing House of Blues with Metro Station tomorrow night. In the words of Jordin Sparks, "It's gonna happen when it's supposed to happen. One step at at time….."

-- Shontelle

Shontelligence hits stores November 18!