Triangle singers take shot at 'Idol' status

Hundreds of aspiring singers lined up before daybreak at Cary Towne Center Saturday for a chance to audition for the next season of "American Idol." FOX 50 will send one winner from the Cary competition to perform for the "Idol" producers in Charleston, S.C., on July 22.

Posted 10:24 a.m. Jul 9, 2011 — Updated 11:50 p.m. Jul 9, 2011

CARY, N.C. — More than 500 people lined up at Cary Towne Center Saturday for a chance to audition for the next season of "American Idol." FOX 50 will send one winner from the Cary competition to perform for the "Idol" producers in Charleston, S.C., on July 22.

Organizers expected the event to be a big draw, citing the "Scotty factor." Just last summer, Scotty McCreery was a high school student and bagger at Lowes Foods in Garner before his deep voice and country twang propelled him to the "Idol" title. McCreery and 10 others from Season 10 are currently on tour, and they will perform at the RBC Center in Raleigh July 27.

"I was pretty proud of Scotty," said Divonte Richardson, 16, of Raleigh. "I mean, from Garner? I was like, whoa! I wanna be just like Scotty."

It was Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson who inspired Lauren Wilder, 18, of Raleigh. "When I first saw Kelly Clarkson, I was like, 'Mom, on my gosh, I want to do that so bad,'" she said.

As they waited in line, Six lucky singers performed live on Saturday's WRAL morning news.

Once inside, each hopeful had 1 minute to impress the judges and score a trip to Charleston to do it again for the "American Idol" producers.

FOX 50 will post the names of 20 finalists online Tuesday. The grand prize winner will be announced Friday. FOX 50 will for airfare and hotel for that person to perform at the tryout in Charleston.

Suggest A Correction