A cosmetologist and preacher's daughter who grew up singing gospel songs is one step closer to the stage of the wildly popular "American Idol" competition.

Twenty-six-year-old Latona Coleman of Moss Point walked off the stage of the Saenger Theatre Sunday as the winner of Fox-affiliate WXXV-TV's preliminary competition.

With the win, Coleman clinched a coveted few minutes of guaranteed face time before producers of television's top-rated show in Birmingham, Ala.

Birmingham is the next stop on the show's national contestant search, which has already screened hopefuls in California, Texas and New Jersey.

Birmingham has produced Idol winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks, and runner-up Bo Bice.

Future audition sites:

Monday, Aug. 21
Birmingham, Ala.
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center

Sunday, Sept. 3
Memphis, Tenn.
FedExForum

Friday, Sept. 8
Minneapolis, Minn.
Target Center

Tuesday, Sept. 19
Seattle, Wash.
Key Arena

Season six of "American Idol" will premiere in January 2007 on FOX Television and FOX Meridian.