Lea Michele: Cory Monteith 'Watching Everything I'm Doing'

It's been six months since "Glee" star Cory Monteith died of a lethal combination of alcohol and drugs, but girlfriend Lea Michele said in a new interview that she still feels connected to him. The "Glee" actress is embarking on a solo career and feels she has the full support of her former love.

"During 'Glee,' I felt like I was scratching that itch of being an artist," Michele told "Teen Vogue" in a new interview. "I was at a great place in my life and I was so unbelievably happy – my relationship with Cory made me feel like I could reach for the stars and more. So I was like, 'I'm going to challenge myself and do this record now.'"

In the interview, which she did with co-star and real-life friend Jonathan Groff, Michele said that she had the full support of Monteith who was "such a fan" of the album.

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"He would be like, 'You're going to be a pop star! What are we going to do? Are we going to, like, go on the road?' He would say, 'This is going to be big!' And I'd be like, 'I don't know.' He heard every song and gave me notes on everything," Michele noted. "He loved 'Battlefield.' I'm getting chills thinking about it. I would say 'Burn With You' was his favorite. He came into the studio that day."

Michele's album, "Louder," is expected to be released soon. It's a dream come true for the actress-singer who has worked on Broadway, TV, film, and is now thrilled to be doing what she loves most: singing. Of course, it comes as somewhat bittersweet given that Monteith won't be around to see the album's debut or success, but Michele knows he's still a part of her life.

"I somehow feel the insane love Cory and I had for each other morphed into this strength that I have right now. There's just something about knowing he's watching everything I'm doing and feeling like I have to do everything now not just for me but for him. I also have a safety net below me – if I fall or if it's too much, my friends and family will be there to catch me," Michele said.