Never a gleek, but music is her No. 1

Ever since Lauren Pritchard was a teenager, she dreamed of becoming a singer-songwriter -- a goal she pursued with almost singular determination, even passing up a coveted opportunity to achieve it.

At 18, she appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning "Spring Awakening," but left for a musical career.

She landed a development deal with a major record label, but abandoned it because she felt she wouldn't be allowed to create songs the way she wanted to do them.

Pritchard then auditioned for a TV pilot, but after catching producers' interest, decided not to pursue the role. Instead, she set out for London to record the album she wanted to make.

The TV pilot turned out to be Fox network's "Glee," and the role was Rachel Berry, which has made Lea Michele a singing and acting sensation.

But Pritchard, who is currently on tour, has no regrets about "Glee" or any of her other career choices, because she feels she took the right path.

"I have totally felt I made the right decision, and, to me, the success of the show really does excite me because I know that Lea is doing what she loves, and to see her do what she loves and see her be so successful is very exciting," she said.

Pritchard's debut CD, "Wasted in Jackson," is a soulful, wistful album that has received solid to stellar reviews since it was released digitally last fall; it was released to stores in February. It mines typical territory for a 23-year-old, including love and relationships, but also explores the restlessness of an ambitious spirit trying to avoid stagnation -- a theme that resonates with Pritchard.

"It's a reflection of how I was really feeling; it was very much written in hindsight," the petite brunette said in a recent interview. Pritchard got her start by singing in school talent competitions and at local shows when she was growing up in Jackson, Miss. But she knew she couldn't make her dream of becoming a singing sensation come true if she stayed in Jackson, so, at 16, she decided to leave.

"I just wanted out of my hometown so badly," she said. "I just wanted to be able to accomplish the goals that I had so badly, I just think it overshadowed any actual fear."

Pritchard left for Los Angeles with her supportive but "terrified" mother. She began to settle into the local music scene, then a tragedy threatened to send her back to Mississippi.

Her brother was involved in a car accident in Jackson, and her mother needed to return home to help him recuperate. Pritchard feared she would have to leave Los Angeles, but one friend's parent reached out to Pritchard's mother and implored her to let Pritchard stay with her family so her progress wouldn't be disrupted. Pritchard's mom was persuaded -- the parent was Lisa Marie Presley.

Pritchard's stay with the Presley clan was the beginning of what some would call fabulous luck. She auditioned and landed a role in "Spring Awakening," in which Michele had a starring role. The pair became friends, but Pritchard, when offered a chance to renew her contract, decided to leave for the promise of a record contract. She already had secured a publishing deal, she said, and soon was in talks with J Records.

Although a representative for J Records said Pritchard never had an official deal, she said she was working toward recording an album. She was interested in writing smoky songs that mixed a bit of soul and folk and pop, she said, but the record label wanted her to record songs written by others that would conform to mainstream pop radio.

"It was going in a much more R&B direction than she was comfortable with, and I don't think it was ever quite convincing . . . not to anyone," said producer-songwriter Eg White, chief producer and collaborator on "Wasted in Jackson."

J Records and Pritchard ended their relationship, and Pritchard landed on Island Records. She decided to head to London to sketch out her music, but then got an opportunity to audition for "Glee." She auditioned once, but declined when asked to continue in the process.

"I just thought, the only thing that I want to make my full-time commitment to is my music career," she said. "When that happened, it was when I was taking all of my meetings with record labels, and I just thought, I've got this opportunity, and if I don't take it, I'm an idiot, and I'm not sacrificing anymore. I'm doing what I want and I love."

The irony is that "Glee" cast members have become pop stars. Cast albums have sold millions, and songs from the show appear regularly on Billboard charts and have earned Grammy nominations.

But that's not the success Pritchard wants.

"I've never looked back on the situation and thought, 'I wish I would have,' " she said, "because I get to do what I love every single day."

WHEN | WHERELauren Pritchard's "Wasted in Jackson" is in stores now.