'American Idol': Nya sang 'like Krispy Kreme donuts.' But did she survive the Idol Arena?

More than 140 singers entered the new Idol Arena on Sunday's episode of "American Idol." Only 56 survived the competition.

It was "the biggest and the toughest cut in 'Idol' history, according to judge Katy Perry.

And Fort Myers' Nya made it through.

Nya ― the stage name for singer-actor-dancer Nyachomba Muchai-Kinya ― impressed the judges with her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." The audience cheered and clapped along as Nya belted out the soul classic. And so did the judges.

"I mean, pure tonal gold ..." judge Luke Bryan told Nya afterward. "It was just laid in there like butter, like Krispy Kreme donuts.

"Great job. Way to get this place fired up."

American Idol: More about SW Florida's Nya

The 28-year-old Nya will return Monday night for "American Idol's" Showstopper Round. That competition narrows down the singing pool from 56 to 24, Bryan said.

Nya lives in Manhattan, but grew up in Fort Myers. She attended Cypress Lake High's Center for the Arts and sang for the school's award-winning vocal group TAG (The A Cappella Group).

"She was amazing," says Gary Stroh, her former vocal teacher at Cypress Lake High.  "She had that 'it' quality."

Now Nya performs on Broadway and Off-Broadway, including recent shows "Titanique" and "Carolina, or Change." She auditioned for "American Idol" in Manhattan.

She's the latest former TAG singer to appear on "Idol" or "The Voice." Those TV singing competitions have also featured TAG's Casey Bishop, Ryleigh Plank and Vonzell "Baby V" Solomon.

Sunday's episode of "American Idol" started with 143 singers in the Idol Arena. More than half of those went home by the end of the show.

"But rest assured of one thing," said judge Lionel Richie. "We are so confident that we have found the best of the best."

"American Idol" airs at 7 p.m. Sundays and Mondays on ABC. It also streams on Hulu.

Learn more at https://abc.com/shows/american-idol.

Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 'American Idol' recap: Nya performs for Hollywood Week in new arena