Who Is Lee DeWyze?

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - After losing his job as a paint store clerk and without an apartment waiting for him back home, "American Idol" contestant Lee DeWyze is betting he will go all the way in season nine.

"My apartment lease was up and I got fired... so I don't have a job to go back to," said the crooner on his blog page. "I'm not worried about that... it doesn't matter what I gave up because this is the ultimate for me."

The 23-year-old has been performing music since he was 16, and thinks he made the Top 24 because his voice is unique. Not only does the Mount Prospect, Ill. native's wide range of music singing styles make him versatile, so does playing guitar.

Without a back-up plan in place, DeWyze said he is confident this is what he is meant to be doing.

According to the Chicago Daily Herald , on the final judgement day DeWyze had to assure the judges he had enough confidence to become the next Idol.

"You've got a big, powerful instrument," said judge Kara Dioguardi. "But I think you suffer from a lack of confidence."

The Herald reported that DeWyze appeared shaken when they told him he lacked a stage presence, but convinced the judging panel: "I feel I have done well... I am confident and confident in myself and everything I do."

And Chicago blog Journal and Topics reports when he found out he made the cut, the twenty-something shouted: "Oh my God... You really appreciate music now and now I am going to be on the biggest show in the world. I made it."

The Chicago Tribune described him as having a crunchy-granola look when he first auditioned in Chicago, which seemed to work with The Fray's "You Found Me" for his final individual performance in front of the judges before they deliberated.

Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly compared DeWyze's gruff, soulful rendition of "Ain't No Sunshine," to season eight's champ Kris Allen.

And according to the UK blog, UnrealityTV.com , even though the singer enjoyed very little camera time before he hit Hollywood, he is a "very talented young man" who could "be a dark horse this season."

"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