Who Is Paige Miles?

MYFOX NATIONAL - Paige Miles said that she was struggling with several health issues, as she was voted off American Idol Wednesday night. Miles told Good Day NY that a combination of laryngitis, asthma and high blood pressure made singing very difficult.

Miles' family hadn't heard her singing voice before the top 24 finalist, who hails from Naples, Fla., auditioned for "American Idol."

It wasn't that she was shy, she is a self-proclaimed "closet singer," according to NaplesNews.com .

Miles said she only knew she could sing a little when she sang along to the radio and TV, and on her blog says it was Kelly Clarkson who inspired her to audition.

Now the energetic, self-dubbed homebody will be singing in front of up to 30 million viewers.

Often the harshest critic on the show, judge Simon Cowell, is a huge fan of the singer, telling her: "You are better than you even know. You are a really, really good singer."

And Miles has another big fan back home, her drama teacher, Mark Danni, who told her local paper: "She reminds me of Aretha Franklin or Lena Horne... she filled the theater".

But the Idol hopeful told her local paper she isn't letting her nerves get the better of her: "I'm really looking forward to America getting to know me ... I can't wait to be on stage and have America hear me sing."

Unlike a lot of singers who get stage fright, the former competitive cheerleader and tutor said she actually felt calmer when she was on stage during Hollywood week.

"I got the nerves and the butterflies when I was standing around or waiting," she said. "But when I’m onstage, I’m confident and comfortable."

Meanwhile, MTV.com reports that Miles has received very little exposure on "American Idol" so far, without even showing any of her final performances before she made it through to the top 24, so she needs to put in a "water-cooler-worthy turn onstage" to make her "Idol" dream a reality.

"American Idol" Season Nine Contestant Profiles:

Didi Benami | Lacey Brown | Crystal Bowersox | Michelle Delamor | Lee DeWyze | Katelyn Epperly | Andrew Garcia | Tyler Grady | Todrick Hall | Casey James | Aaron Kelly | Alex Lambert | Michael Lynche | Siobhan Magnus | Paige Miles | Jose Munoz | John Park | Ashley Rodriguez | Lilly Scott | Jermaine Sellers | Katie Stevens | Tim Urban | Haeley Vaughn | Janell Wheeler