AMY MACDONALD has revealed that she'll never go down the same route as Amy Winehouse - because her friends will always keep her grounded.

Ahead of her two shows at the Carling Academy next week, the Bishopbriggs songstress also revealed how she's set to crack the USA, how rock legend Roger Daltrey gave her a pep talk, and how she's now recognised everywhere she goes - in Switzerland!

The last word on Leon row THE only blight on Amy's rise to fame was a brief spat that took place at New Year over comments she made about X Factor winner Leon Jackson, below, pulling out of a Hogmanay performance. But that experience isn't going to make Amy bite her tongue in the future. advertisement She said: "I never made any remarks about Leon directly, they weren't aimed at him. I just know that there's people that would chop their right arm off to play something like that, as it's a wonderful opportunity. I mean, I'd have got out off my death bed to play it, that's the point I was making. "I'm not going to hold anything I say back. On my blog, I use that as a place for me to vent about things. It's just for people that are interested in my music to find out more. And its also a way of dealing with this stage of my life ." Of course, Amy's Hogmanay wasn't bad either, seeing as she managed to play both BBC's Hogmanay show and also perform at the George Square festivities too. "It was really brilliant, usually I just have a relaxing day with friends but this time we had rehearsals at the BBC during the day then it was off to George Square. Then it was straight back over to the BBC to play there. There was a massive party afterwards, we were just all loitering about the place!"

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic past 12 months, that's seen her album This Is The Life top the charts in the UK and throughout Europe, while her distinctive, booming voice has won her many plaudits.

But the refreshingly down to earth star insists she's still the same girl as before, and that there is no danger of her going off the deep end in the same way that the much publicised diva Ms Winehouse has done.

She said: "What's happening with Amy is what happened with Pete Doherty all over again, and obviously he was a huge inspiration on me Amy's newest single Poison Prince is about the Babyshambles front man.

"It's horrible to watch and hopefully she'll get better but it's a shame that everyone is now so interested in her as a person rather than in what her music is like.

"I'm not worried about that happening to me though. I can go out and have a good time without ever getting involved with drugs or anything like that. I've never been in that situation and I try to stay out of the media spotlight. If you say my name, people don't know who I am. That's great.

"I think I've managed to avoid the whole fame part. And my friends still treat me exactly the same way as before. If anything, they dis-respect me even more now than they did before! They are so supportive. Ive had time now to let it all sink in and it's unbelievable. Its what Ive always dreamed of."

However, Amy admits she has had problems trying to juggle her career with keeping in touch of some of her friends.

"At times it can be tough. It was one of my closest friends 21st recently and I had to miss it because I had another commitment. I felt like such a horrible friend. But we ended up going out when I was back in Glasgow."

She may not be a tabloid fixture, but Amy's distinctive vocals and acoustic-led songs have certainly found an audience, with This Is The Life now having gone double platinum, finally climbing to No 1 in the charts in January, plus a string of sold-out tours.

She's currently on her biggest jaunt so far, an excursion that calls at the Academy next week, which will be two gigs that will be extra special for the singer.

"I've been to the Academy loads of times, I remember seeing bands such as Kings of Leon and the Killers there, and the NME Tour with Franz Ferdinand on it.

"Its going to be strange playing there, because I keep thinking that it's the likes of the Killers that play two nights there, not me!

"There's been a gradual build-up, from playing Tut's to the Garage to the Barras to here. It feels better playing all the venues, rather than just starting at the biggest venues. Its been a great progression."

Amy recently got a chance to play one of Britain's most prestigious auditoriums, the Royal Albert Hall, as part of Roger Daltrey's Teenage Cancer Trust series of gigs.

"It was such an honour to be asked to play there. Roger's really involved in everything there, so he phones all the artists personally to ask them to play it.

"I got this call on my mobile and I didn't recognise the number and when I answered it, it was Roger!

"Before our gigs I always have a wee huddle and pep talk with the band. At the RAH, Roger asked if he could give us the pep talk! He's so committed to the Cancer Trust cause."

Having already charmed the UK and Europe, Amy's now targeting America.

She's just back from playing gigs in Boston and New York, and will return when This Is The Life is released there this summer. It's a challenge she's looking forward to.

"Going to America can obviously take up a lot of time, you can lose months or a year being out there. So there's no time for me getting back into the studio just yet. I was just over there doing a couple of showcases.

"The gigs were buzzing and the feedback was brilliant. The head of our US label actually e-mailed the head of the UK label to say they were honoured to have had me over there, and how impressed they were!

"I've been to America loads of times and there's always some excitement when you're there. Me and the guys had just been across Europe and were getting used to how things are and then going to America is quite different."

AMY'S European adventures have also brought her a lot of success, with This Is The Life topping the charts in Denmark and Switzerland.

She has also broken into the Dutch Top 10 and German Top 20. And that's meant that Amy is having to cope with being a famous face from Amsterdam to Zurich and beyond "The Swiss in particular have taken to my music. I was at the airport there and I was asked for my autograph. Everyone seemed to know who I was! It was amazing."

So, with the chatterbox singer having experienced so many other countries, is she thinking of leaving Glasgow?

"Definitely not!"