Don't forget to pack a four-leaf clover
You might be Elvis reincarnated, but if luck isn't on your side during the first round of Idol auditions, you'll be heading back home.
That's how 18-year-old Breanne Strawn of Garland looks at it. Tomorrow will be her third time to try out for the show. She points out that Jordin Sparks – according to rumor – auditioned in one city and didn't make it, so she flew to another city. And look, she ended up being Season Six's last singer standing. (In your face, anonymous producer who rejected her!)
"And Chris Sligh, he tried out one year with really short hair and didn't make it," Breanne adds. "Last year, he did make it. So it's all about luck: what judge you get, how many times they've heard that song, if it's before lunch or after lunch. But the experience is truly fun."
Two years ago, Breanne made it past the first line of defense in Denver by singing "Respect," but was later told by the executive producers that she seemed too young.
Still, she left encouraged: "I made the top 200 out of 10,000."
Last year in San Antonio, "I ended up being one of the last ones to go," she says. "I didn't make it past the first round, but they did have me sing four songs."
This time, she's not sure what she'll sing, but it'll be an older tune. (One of her personal faves: "Stand By Your Man.") She'll have plenty of time to practice; last year she arrived at 4 a.m. and finally auditioned at 8:30 p.m.
"What's so crazy about it is you never get away from hearing someone singing," she says. "In the bathroom, there are five people singing in the stalls; when you walk down the hall, there are 20 people singing on their iPods. You'll hear every song imaginable."