Who Is Janell Wheeler?
Published : Tuesday, 23 Feb 2010, 3:17 PM EST
(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Janell Wheeler calls herself a "Sunshine Cowgirl."
The Tampa, Fla., native auditioned in Orlando with the song "House of the Rising Sun," which earned her a golden ticket to Hollywood as one of the Top 24 finalists for American Idol's season nine.
On her fan Web site JanellWheeler.net she described herself as a singer and writer who also acts and dances. "Music has been my passion since the moment I could wriggle to dance and hum to sing," she wrote.
Wheeler, 24, claims to have an "original, refreshing take on country music" with influences from her classical music training, her love with the guitar, musical theater and experience with hip hop and progressive music.
Celebrity Web site The Hollywood Gossip reported that she refers to her music as "country, pop, soul, glam, fun." She won Orlando's Got Talent and names Journey and Fleetwood Mac as her favorite bands.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Wheeler's "on-again, off-again boyfriend" is 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow.
She also sang the National Anthem at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers football game earlier this season, according to Web site BumpShack.com .
In her Golden Ticket interview she said that she can breakdance and dance hip hop but called bargain shopping her special talent, according to American Idol's Web site .
She said she had no formal singing training but had sung with the chorus and choir in elementary and high school. She started singing in second grade in church when she wrote three songs and performed them at St. Mary Magdalen in Orlando. Her Idol profile names Stevie Nicks as her favorite female artist and Journey's former frontman Steve Perry as her favorite male singer.
Wheeler sang Neyo's "Closer" with Casey James and Jermaine Purifory during Hollywood Week.
http://www.foxcharlotte.com/dpps/edg...100223_6228069