Lea Michele, 27, has had a lot to overcome this year after losing her boyfriend Cory Monteith to a drug overdose last summer.

While things still aren’t easy for Lea, she is learning how to move forward, and has even been working on a new solo album Louder that was released today. During an interview with Good Morning America, Michele explains that she could not have made it this far without the love and support of her family and friends.

“I’m really very, very, very thankful for all the amazing people I have in my life,” the Glee star revealed to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “I know that sounds like something everyone says, but honestly, my friends and my family, they got me through this and really, really have been there for me and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Michele’s new album has been compared to reading someone’s diary, and she says that is exactly what she was going for; an album that told the story of her life.

“That’s really what I sought out to do when making this record,” Lea explained. “Moving to Los Angeles from working on Broadway I was cast on ‘Glee’ within just a few weeks, so I really was introduced to the world as Rachel Berry. I wanted to take this opportunity in making this record to really let my fans know who I am, and I think the music should be personal,” she continued.

.@msleamichele opens up about her debut solo album #LOUDER! RT if you're watching! #LEAonGMA pic.twitter.com/qPCwP8hqb6

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 5, 2014

With Glee ending after this coming season, fans are curious as to what Lea will be using all of her spare time for. She admitted that she would someday like to go back to her Broadway roots. “I was so surprised with how much I fell in love with this recording process in making this album and I definitely want to make another one,” she explained. “So once I feel like I’ve scratched that itch completely, Broadway is definitely where my heart is.”

Great time on @GMA! Hope you guys enjoyed #Cannonball & #Battlefield! pic.twitter.com/85k55bOjed

— Lea Michele (@msleamichele) March 5, 2014

Image via Twitter