EDMONTON -- Nelly Furtado can pinpoint the exact moment she went from pop fan to pop star.

It was singing with Elton John at a private party after the Oscars in Los Angeles.

Actually, it was simply walking into the place.

She recalls, "It was this huge, very surreal looking place with palm trees and red carpets and flashing lights. And I was like, all right, I can't go back now. I can't be the fan anymore. Or else what's going to happen to my music? I'm going to have to accept it or I'll turn into a nervous wreck. If I'm at U2, freaking out, going, omigod it's U2, I'm not going to get on stage and kick ass, I'm going to get on stage and freeze. I've been forced out of my fantasyland," Furtado ends with a giggle.

Prior to her sold-out show at the Winspear Centre last night, the 22-year singer spent the afternoon talking to the local press. Theme of the day: Destiny vs. free will.

Most people in her position - the quick ride to superstardom, a smash hit debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, opening for U2, singing with Elton John, recording with Missy Elliot, winning four Junos, declared the pop "it girl" by every music mag in creation, etc., etc. - would exclaim, "Like, wow, I'm so surprised. I never expected this to happen."

Not Nelly.

"I knew when I was four years old that I'd be performing for thousands of people one day," she says.

"I didn't know what that meant and I didn't know the course I would have to take to get there. I don't know. There was just this thing inside me that I already knew what was going to happen. I really believe in destiny and fate."

Of course, she had to make the right moves.

"I just follow my heart," she explains.

That's where free will comes in.