Gwinnett County

Hundreds audition for the chance to compete on 'American Idol'

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Is TJ Cochran the next "American Idol" winner? (Photo by Nelson Hicks/wsbtv.com)

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Hundreds of American Idol hopefuls gathered at the Infinite Energy Center in Gwinnett Thursday to compete for their chance to impress the show's producers.

Channel 2's Audrey Washington was live at the auditions Thursday morning, learning what it is going to take to be The Next Idol.

By 7:30 a.m., singers were already lined up outside the venue and nervously awaiting their chance to become a star. Contestants had about 60 seconds to sing their hearts out for the producers, who then gave them a yes or no.

Contestants who got through this round walked away with a golden ticket and will go before the celebrity judges in another city.

Hopefuls who got the dreaded "no" can still audition online or in a different city.

There is no cap on how many singers are selected from each city.

Washington spoke with Patrick Lynn, a supervising producer on Idol, who said he was pleased with the quality of singers at this stop on the audition tour.

"We've been seeing some good talent," Lynn said. "I mean, this is the South. This is Atlanta.

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Washington also spoke with contestant Zach Davis, who came all the way from Arkansas to audition.

His brother, Noah, auditioned last year and made it to Hollywood.

Davis was in Atlanta for his callback.

"Today we’ll try out with the executive producers and they’ll choose who they want to put on to the next round and go before the judges," Davis said.

A prevailing theme during 'Idol' auditions? The support contestant get from each other.

Channel 2 Action News was there as the first singing hopeful got her golden ticket. She followed producers backstage to lots of applause and cheers from the other contestants.

In line before the formal audition process started, contestants cheered each other on while they showed off their pipes.

For so many singers, including Edwin Moore, the opportunity to audition for 'Idol' is the chance of a lifetime.

"Singing is my passion," Moore said. "It's what drives me."