Bo Bice, Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks all call this place home. Tonight we're in Birmingham, Alabama.

Nowhere else in America has provided us with more finalists so it was definitely time to go there for a round of auditions. By 6:00am, eleven thousand people were waiting for their chance to sing in front of Randy, Paula and Simon. Simon was amazed by the welcome since it was the first time they'd ever been welcomed anywhere.

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#19053 Erica Skye, 19 from Auburn, AL is first up and is singing Simon's favourite song, Unchained Melody. It's so bad! Simon says it was like it was a neverending torture. She starts singing some Dixie Chicks despite the begging from the judges for her to stop. Eventually she stops long enough for them to tell her that it's a no.

#24710 Katie Bernard 19 from Oviedo, Fl sings A House is not a Home

#15167 Tatiana McConnico 17 from Austell, GA sings I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)

#12729 Bernard Williams II 26 from Pleasant Grove, AL sings Rock With You

#23028 Jamie Lynn Ward, 17 from Reidsville, NC sings Reflection

# Chris Sligh, 28 from Greenville, SC sings Kiss From A Rose

20 People made it through to Hollywood. Next stop - Los Angeles