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CHARLOTTE, NC (WACH) -- American Idol mania hit the Carolinas Tuesday morning.

Nearly 6,000 pop star hopefuls made their way to the Time Warner Cable Arena in downtown Charlotte for their chance to be the next American Idol.

WACH Fox was there to follow our every own Palmetto Idol winner Kristen Williams.

Williams got a guaranteed audition in front of the producers.

Making his way through he crowd Tuesday was Ryan Seacrest who kept the fans excited and even stopped to take a few pictures.

One surprise was the appearance of season ten winner, Scotty McCreery.

Doors opened just after 8 a.m. Tuesday and about two hours later folks walked out of their auditions.

WACH Fox caught up with Williams after her audition.

“I didn't make it past the third round, but it's okay, there were alot of great singers,” said Williams. "Once we got in, they gave us our tickets. They started doing different tapings of the crowd getting ."

Although she didn't make it home with the golden ticket, Williams still has plans for another singing competition.

“I’m going to keep going.  Sunday’s Best will be next year we'll try that again next year,” says Williams.

Williams sang Chaka Kahn’s “Through the Fire,” but it wasn’t enough to wow the judges.

To find out the next city that will hold American Idol auditions click here.