Fantasia Barrino says she 'lost everything' as she dealt with personal issues after winning American Idol: 'It wasn't easy'

Fantasia Barrino opened up about the turbulent years she went through after winning season three of American Idol during a new interview with the people.

Although the 39-year-old singer took home the grand prize after beating her other competitors in 2004, she subsequently ran into severe financial problems.

The artist, who recently claimed she was the victim of racial profiling, was sued by her father over the way he was portrayed in her 2006 memoir, “Life Is Not a Fairy Tale.”

Parrino's problems continued, and in 2010 she overdosed on a sleep aid and aspirin. She was taken to hospital and survived the ordeal.

The hitmaker began her interview by saying that her life after American Idol “wasn't easy.” I lost a lot. 'I lost everything.'

The artist went on to attribute her issues to being “too green” in terms of the entertainment industry.

Parrino went on to talk about what she wished she had known during her early days as a professional singer.

“You get to be a businesswoman and have great business partners, but it has nothing to do with love. It took me a long time to figure that out,” she said.

The hitmaker also mentioned that she was pretty unsure of how to manage her legal and financial affairs when she started out in Hollywood.

I didn't know anything about contracts. “I didn't know anything about checking your finances and making sure every day that your stuff was where it was supposed to be,” she said.

Parrino added that she “trusted and believed everyone who entered my life.”

However, the singer admitted that she was “grateful” for the experiences she had, and expressed that she “would not be the woman I am today,” without them.

“I am a fan of the Book of Job in the Bible,” the singer concluded. Job lost everything. Me too”.

Parrino most recently appeared as Celie Harris Johnson in the newly released musical drama film The Color Purple.

The songwriter appeared alongside artists like Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo and Corey Hawkins in the film, which was based on Alice Walker's 1982 novel of the same name.

The film received widespread acclaim from critics, currently holding a rating of 87% Rotten tomatoes.

The feature also generated just over $25 million from audiences, according to Box office mojo.