Over 10,000 hopefuls competed Monday in Birmingham, for a chance to perform on the sixth season of Fox's American Idol.

"I'm glad somebody showed up," said host Ryan Seacrest, "because with all these people we'd be in big trouble this season. But I think it's going to be an excellent season. Hopefully we'll find some great talent in there. I know there are some people who are fantastic and then there are probably some that aren't so fantastic."

Birmingham is the third in a series of six auditions in various cities. The city has a lot of connections to the show.

Two winners and a runner-up are from Birmingham, and another runner-up was born there.

Because the Birmingham area has produced some previous American Idols, including last year's winner Taylor Hicks, some of the contestants trying out said the expectations are a little bit higher here in the deep south.

If any of these contestants continue to make the cut, you can see them on TV again in January. That's when the 6th season of American Idol will premiere on Fox Meridian.