Melanie Fiona

Melanie Fiona is looking forward to her Christmas break.

2009 has been a whirlwind year for the 26-year-old R&B singer, but it has been filled with a number of highlights that she never imagined.

"There's literally been no downtime," she shared with BV Newswire.

"I've managed to squeeze in three days, Christmas eve, Christmas day and the day after Christmas," she confided, adding, "I haven't been home in six months, and it's a real treat to be able to be with my family, relax, sleep and try to get my life in order because it's all over the place with traveling."

"That's what I'm really looking forward to this holiday."

Another thing: soul food.

The Canadian-born singer-songwriter is Guyanese, and the holiday gives her a chance to feast on her parents' home cooking.

"My family is so traditional with the way we do it every year," she said. "On Christmas eve, we usually open one gift, and then on Christmas morning, we have a West Indian-Guyanese breakfast. Mom makes homemade bread, garlic beef and pork."

"It's a real festive time for me, and now I have nieces, so having kids around is something I always look forward to now, but it's really about eating lots of food," she added.

The much-needed break will give Fiona a time to reflect on her recent Grammy Award nomination for best female R&B vocal performance for her single 'It Kills Me.'

Fiona describes the moment her brother broke the news of her nomination, which took the singer through a "variety emotions" and ended with "freaking out and crying."

And, she's even proud that her friend and fellow Canadian Drake was also honored with several nominations.

"It's an amazing feeling to know you're on the right path and that you're not by yourself," Fiona said. "Right now, we are at the same point in our career, where we have deals and songs on the radio and recognition internationally and Grammy nods. It's a great thing because we don't always feel like we get the same recognition."

But there's a one musician she's really hoping will join her in the studio the next go 'round.

"I would really love to work with Kanye [West], because I feel like he's done such a great job with R&B-influenced songs, as well as old soul and futuristic and pop."

"I opened for Kanye last year and that experience was an unbelievable bar I set for myself before having a record out in stores or a single," Fiona furthered. "To be invited to open for Kanye on the tour was something I was not mentally ready for, but it was the best performing experience I could have had. I learned to grow and perform at such a high level."

After her Grammy-nominated single has its run on the radio, the 'Give it to Me Right' singer will figure out which track from her debut, 'The Bridge,' will be released next. There are several front-runners, including 'Monday Morning,' 'Bang Bang,' 'Ay Yo' and one of her favorites, 'You Stop My Heart.'

In the new year, Fiona plans to work on her sophomore release, make an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show and, of course, attend the Grammy Awards.