''American Idol changed my life,'' says season 3 fan favorite LaToya London, 27, the Anita Baker-like crooner who was praised for her impeccable voice yet booted off after weeks of criticism that she lacked personality. Now living in Southern California, the gospel-trained vocalist inked a deal with a Concord Records imprint in November 2004, but her debut CD, Love & Life, stalled after its release last September, selling just 50,430 copies. The album's disappointing performance has prodded the aspiring Broadway star — like fellow contestant and current Hairspray star Diana DeGarmo — to shift her attention to acting. In February, she starred in the traveling stage production, Issues — We All Got 'Em. Next, she'll make her film debut in Hollywood Chaos, a comedy featuring a multitude of reality TV celebrities. But despite the flirtation, music remains London's first love. Already, she's dreaming of her next turn in the recording studio...though she's still not ready to ditch the sound that got her on national TV: ''I'm not sure what my next album is going to be like, but I know it will definitely be R&B.''