American Idol: SW Florida's Nya lands in Danger Zone, Tyla hit 'Water' comes to rescue

America voted, and Southwest Florida's Nya wasn't quite Top 14 material on "American Idol."

Not yet, anyway.

Nya ― who grew up in Fort Myers but now lives in New York City ― had to sing Monday to move to the next round on "Idol." Then it was up to the show's three judges to decide: Would she make the Top 14, or would she go home?

"You are going to have to fight for one of those judges' picks," host Ryan Seacrest told Nya on the show. "Get ready to sing. Give it all you got."

Nya did just that, singing a lush, passionate version of the recent Tyla hit "Water." Afterward, judge Lionel Richie praised her "great voice" and attitude.

Then Richie offered this suggestion: America made a mistake when it voted Sunday and didn't put Nya in the show's top singers.

"I just want America to re-think the situation, you know what I'm saying?" he said. "Because I think that was a star performance. Absolutely."

Nya makes Top 14 on 'American Idol'

The judges obviously agreed. At the end of Monday's episode, four of the 10 singers in the "Danger Zone" were rescued.

And Nya was one of them.

Now she and the rest of the Top 14 singers return to "Idol" for the next round of competition Sunday, April 21. American will once again vote on who moves to the next round (see details below).

All about Nya: Who is Nya on 'American Idol'? Get to know the New York singer from Fort Myers, Florida

Nya  ― the stage name for singer-actor-dancer Nyachomba Muchai-Kinya ― hasn't been made available for interviews through an "American Idol" publicist. But she did comment on her win on Instagram.

"I made it to the #Top14," she wrote, "so thankful & blessed. … America I LOVE U and will make you proud. & @tyla thank you for making this hit song hope I did it justice."

Monday's voting results followed Nya's emotional performance Sunday of "Georgia On My Mind." The song was a dedication to her late father, who died in Georgia when she was 16 and never got to hear her perform.

"'Georgia on My Mind' ― that song really was my song for him," said the 28-year-old Nya on Sunday's show. "He passed away in Georgia. I definitely wish that he could be here right now.

"I do want to dedicate the song to him. And I want to sing it so good. I want him to be proud, and I want him to be happy."

Who is 'American Idol' singer Nya?

Nya has never identified herself on the show as a former Fort Myers resident. But she grew up here and now lives in Manhattan.

It’s unclear if she was born in Florida or Kenya, however. Previous episodes suggested she was born in Kenya. But on Sunday's show, Nya said this: "My family came here from Kenya. My mom and dad weren't together by the time I was born."

Nya attended Fort Myers' Orangewood Elementary and Cypress Lake High's Center for the Arts. She performs on Broadway and Off-Broadway, including recent shows "Titanique" and "Carolina, or Change."

On the show, Nya said her Fort Myers mom was strict and didn't support her singing career at first. Her parents wanted her to be a lawyer or a doctor.

Her dad, however, was a big supporter ― despite never seeing her actually perform. "My dad, he was the only person, really, who understood, like, what I wanted to do," she said on Sunday's show. "He was my biggest support. He actually never heard me sing."

How to watch and vote for 'American Idol'

"American Idol" airs at 8 p.m. Sundays and Mondays on ABC. It also streams on Hulu.

To vote on next week's shows, visit idolvote.abc.com or the American Idol app. You can vote up to 10 times for each contestant.

You can also text the contestant's number to 21523. Nya's number is currently 6.

Read more about Nya

Check out these previous articles about Nya:

Auditions: Former Fort Myers singer Nya wows judges, heads to Hollywood Week

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

Showstopper round: Nya hits 'American' Idol stage with 'fierce' performance of Temptations' 'Get Ready'

Raves for Nya on American Idol: Get to know the New York singer from Fort Myers, Florida

Top 20: Nya sings tearful 'Georgia On My Mind' for her dad. Will she make Top 14?

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 atcrunnells@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 sings Tyla hit 'Water,' moves to Top 14