Ke$ha: Billboard's Q&A with the Hot 100 Artist of the Year

"Sometimes I need to remind myself that 'TiK ToK' only went to No. 1 in January," Ke$ha says of her party-hearty electro-pop jam. "Because it kind of feels like it was 17 years ago."

Doesn't it, though? As far as new artists go, 2010 more or less belonged to this 23-year-old Nashville native, who released her hit debut, "Animal," in January, then followed it up last month with a nine-track mini-album, "Cannibal."

With three songs on Billboard's year-end Hot 100, and 1.1 million copies sold of "Animal," according to Nielsen SoundScan, Ke$ha is the Hot 100 artist of the year, as well as the top new artist.

Lady Gaga is Billboard's 2010 Artist of the Year, Ke$ha Takes Top New Act

"You can never completely predict what's going to be a hit," says her producer, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald. "But I can't say I'm surprised by Ke$ha's success." The secret behind her rise? RCA/Jive Label Group chairman/CEO Barry Weiss says, "She's an artist with a point of view-which is more than you can say about 95% of the acts out there."

Billboard: How different is your life right now versus this time a year ago?

Ke$ha: Are you kidding me? I pretty much feel like I've been reborn into this completely different existence. My entire life has become making music and playing shows, and I love it. I've accepted the fact that my fans are now my family, and I won't be having boyfriends. I'll just be having a really amazing relationship with the radio.

Were you prepared for that transformation?

I wasn't clueless. It's just not at all what I expected it to be like. It's really intense-more intense than I ever thought it would be. I remember pulling up to the [MTV Video Music Awards in September] with Dr. Luke in a DeLorean wearing a garbage-bag dress with the paparazzi chasing me. I was having an anxiety attack, like, "I just wrote some pop songs, man!"

Has Luke advised you on how to navigate the twists and turns of stardom?

Oh, absolutely. He's been one of the most influential people in my life; he's been like a big brother. We're very much tangled up in each other. He's always given me the best advice and has always been very honest with me in a business where sometimes honesty is not the first word that comes to mind.

"TiK ToK" introduced you to most people. Looking back, do you feel like that was the best possible launch?

I don't know. We didn't really know which song to come out with first. It was kind of a debate, because I didn't initially come out as a rapper; I've always been a singer. So having my first single classified as kind of a rap song felt bizarre to me. But now it's become something of a trademark. And it's becoming more legitimate: I've talked to some of my favorite rap artists over the past year-artists who are idols-and they've given me mad props.

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[apelord33]

thumbs up for Ke$ha being top new act 2010 and NOT Bieber

[Issa94x]

I LOVE YOU VID$!

[rdmathews37]

Am I the only one who realizes kesha has no talent what so ever?

[laurenjackson5670]

@apelord33 OMG so true i love Ke$ha!

[BarbaraMae100]

KESHA FANS!!

search a girl names Carlette car (i think)

everyoneeeee is comparing her to kesha!!!

Its driving me insane and I think that we need to tell people that kesha is 100x better!

[permanentlyattached]

new subjectsssssssssssssssssssssss­s

[ZeriaChan]

@Banapples83 Then you never truly liked Ke$ha. I see nothing wrong with the way she acts in interviews. she's just being herself. Instead of posting negitive comments about an artist you dont even know, how about you do something useful with your time.

[Banapples83]

@ZeriaChan I did like her till i saw how she was in interviews and like this.

[ZeriaChan]

@Banapples83 How is Ke$ha fake for being herself? If you dislike her then why are you watching this video in the first place? Troll, YOU Fail!

[Banapples83]

@dynomitis alrighty then...if you like fake trashy sluts then you do your thing.

[Banapples83]

@dynomitis eww no she's not.