Paige Miles blames laryngitis for getting the boot on Wednesday night's American Idol.
"My vocal chords were pretty much trashed," the 24-year-old Naples, Fla. native told reporters during a Thursday conference call.
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"My problem was finding the material that I thought fit me best… and the laryngitis," she explained of her decision to sing Phil Collins' "Against All Odds." "The doctor said I could do some permanent damage because the inflammation on my vocal chords was so enormous… I really did have to take it easy [with song choice] and unfortunately it was really really bad timing. Awful timing."
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Still, she didn't think she'd be voted off.
"I knew I had a poor performance Tuesday night, but I really didn't think it was my time to go yet. I was surprised," Miles said.
She says the judges were "bummed" out as well.
Miles thought Miley Cyrus did a "great job" as a guest mentor.
"She has tons of experience in the business as far as touring, making albums, dong things that a lot of us in the competition are trying to do," she said. "In that respect, she was a pretty good pick for her age really because I'm 24, so I'm older than her, but talking with her… her age didn't come across at all."
Next up for Miles: "To continue moving forward with my singing…I love to perform and this is obviously something I want to make a career out of…and possibly move out here to L.A."
Lacey Browne was sent home last week.
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