It’s hard to believe two decades separate America from becoming acquainted with Fantasia as the winner of ‘American Idol’ in 2004, but 20 years later the global R&B superstar reveals she still has a special place in her heart for the talent show juggernaut.

Taking to the red carpet of the show’s season 22 finale on Sunday (May 20), Fannie not only gave this year’s victor Abi Carter some words of advice but also reflected on her own journey since being crowned the competition’s champion.

“It doesn’t feel like 20 years. Every time someone says that, my heart drops,” she shared. “[But] there’s been good, there’s been bad, but I was so young, and so my thing is I want to let the young people [on this season] know… make sure you have a great team and enjoy it. Don’t take it too serious.”

That’s not all she said.

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Chatting it up ET’s Denny Directo after Sunday’s big show, the GRAMMY winner dished on the ups and downs of her career since winning the show and looking forward to turning 40 in June.

“I know what I want at 40, and I know what I don’t want,” she relayed. “Sometimes, we have to wake up in the morning and realize that, one — we woke up, and two — you can’t forget all the things that are around you and to look at the blessing in that. So at 40, I’m at peace, baby.”

Something else on the R&B diva’s wishlist is a spot on the ‘Idol’ judges’ panel, which she previously revealed to the entertainment news program.

“They’re big shoes to fill, first of all,” Fannie said of Katy Perry who exited the show after 7 seasons to re-focus on her music career. “She’s gonna have fun, so I think she’s gonna be really, really missed.”

When quizzed on if she would be interested in replacing Perry, Fannie didn’t hesitate to express her interest.

“I would love to sit and walk those young people through it — if I could,” she relayed.

[photo courtesy: ABC]

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