Melissa Gorga: 'I Am a Legit Singer'

Get ready, Billboard. The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Melissa Gorga is coming after you.

"I know the Housewives kind of get a bad rap for the songs and the music they put out, but I am a legit singer," she tells NJ.com. "I hope everyone will be pleasantly surprised. But it's legit. It's legit."

The petite brunette, who's a Jersey native and full Italian, plans to take full advantage of her new platform as a means for growing her career. In fact, when sister-in-law Teresa Giudice first informed her family that she would be joining The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Melissa says, "Everyone pretty much told her not to do it except for me. I was like, 'If they offered it to me, I would do it.' I'm a singer. For me, it was an incredible stepping stone."

Fans got a glimpse of Melissa's musical journey in previews for Season 3, and will see more as the season unfolds. "That's going to be one of the storylines going forward, from the very start to the very end." But one thing you won't see, however, is the mom of three collaborating with a certain former RHONJ. "I'm not doing any duets with Danielle," she adds.

What do you think? Will Melissa have what it takes to make it in the music industry? Start a Tweet Battle, and make your case.