Kellie Pickler Admits Childhood Abuse  11/17/06

Former American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler was mentally and physically abused at the hands of her mother, who even encouraged her to commit suicide.

During the popular talent competition, fans found out that her father, a drug abuser, was in and out of prison for armed robbery, but didn't know about that she was also a victim of abuse from her mother.

She tells American publication Us Weekly, "I remember my mother and I were in the kitchen and I said, 'I wish God would take me away, I'd much rather be dead than live here with you.'

"She took a knife out, set it on the counter and said, 'Here, do it then.' I was in fourth grade. Of course I never would have acted upon it, but it's done a lot of emotional scarring."

Pickler has not seen her mother since she failed to show up for a joint custody hearing when she was a young girl and went to live with her paternal grandparents full time.

Last year (05) her father was released from prison after serving time for stabbing a man during an armed robbery and he was able to see his daughter become a finalist on the show.

The 20-year-old is currently developing a sitcom based on her life and her debut album, Small Town Girl, is number one on the country music charts.