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

The "American Idol" judges love Nya.

They've raved about the former Southwest Florida singer every time she's appeared on the show, starting with her Feb. 25 audition.

"You are actually a massive singer," judge Luke Bryan told her after her audition. "A massive personality."

Lionel Richie agreed and offered this prediction for Nya: "What you have are the goods, I think, to go all the way."

Will it happen? That's up to America to decide, now that live voting has started on "American Idol."

Meanwhile, here's what you need to know about Nya:

Nya made American Idol's Top 20

Nya ― the stage name for singer-actor-dancer Nyachomba Muchai-Kinya – made it through the "American Idol" auditions and then survived what judge Katy Perry called "the biggest and the toughest cut in 'Idol' history."

More than 140 singers entered the new Idol Arena on the show's March 31 episode. Only 56 made it to the next round − including Nya.

Now, after more rounds of competition, Nya has made it into the show's Top 20 singers. The 28-year-old New York resident returns Monday, April 15, to compete to be in the "American Idol" Top 14.

Nya grew up in Southwest Florida, now lives in New York City

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 the April 14 show, Nya said this: "My family came here from Kenya. My mom and dad weren't together by the time I was born."

Nya hasn't been made available for interviews through an "American Idol" publicist. She's been "busy in production," the publicist said.

But Nya has deep connections to Fort Myers. She attended Fort Myers schools Orangewood Elementary and Cypress Lake High. And her former vocal teachers at both schools remember her well.

Willie Sparrow, her vocal teacher at Orangewood, watched her "American Idol" audition and says he felt "extremely proud."

Like Lionel Richie, Sparrow thinks his former student has what it takes to win "Idol." Then again, he's always known she could make it big, ever since she sang at Orangewood.

"I knew, when I first heard her open her mouth," he says. "Wow kid, you're going to be doing some great stuff."

Nya's career in Broadway musicals

Nya performs on Broadway and Off-Broadway, including recent shows "Titanique" and "Carolina, or Change."

She moved to New York City before her 21st birthday to pursue a career onstage, she told the New York Post.

Before that, she studied law in Tennessee. “That’s what my family wanted me to do," she told the Post. "I’m super Kenyan, super conservative family upbringing.”

Nya has no formal musical training, but she taught herself to sing, dance and play six instruments. She sees "American Idol" and the Top 24 as a "defining moment" in her musical career.

"If I can make that," she said on the show, "then I feel like my career is about to be set right now."

Her parents, however, haven't always been happy with her musical career. “My parents didn’t want me to do any of those things," she told the Post. "They wouldn’t pay for it. If it’s not academics, it doesn’t make any sense."

Her mom is starting to come around, though. Thanks largely to "Idol."

“I think the Lionel Richie part is really what’s making her OK with it,” Nya said.

The Cypress Lake High TAG connection

Nya 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 even nominated for the national CARAs (Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards) for her solo on a 2011 TAG album.

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

Nya is the latest former TAG singer to appear on "American Idol" or "The Voice." The shows have also featured TAG alumni Casey Bishop, Ryleigh Plank and Vonzell "Baby V" Solomon.

"It's crazy," Stroh said.

He's not surprised that his former student made it all the way to "Idol," though. She impressed everyone who heard her at Cypress Lake High.

Stroh recognized that same talent on display when he watched Nya's February audition on "Idol."

"She had that spark like when she was here," he says. "And that voice. And those riffs and runs."

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, 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.

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

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'

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: Who is Nya of Manhattan, NYC and Fort Myers, Florida?