For a television show that is apparently desperately seeking viewership for its upcoming season, “American Idol” sure is being secretive about what it has to offer. Even though Churchill Downs was a ghost town this morning as far as contestants, Louisville police officers were politely escorting newspersons not associated with WDRB Fox-41 off the property. WDRB is the local affiliate that broadcasts “AI,” which is wrapping up auditions here today for the upcoming season. I tried to circumvent… Continue

Tiffany Felicia stormed out of Churchill Downs, her anger apparent before she even opened her mouth. "All they look for is nerds, freaks," the 18-year-old said as she jetted toward the parking lot, speed walking like she had on tennis shoes instead of the 3-inch stilettos she was wearing. "They wouldn't give me a second chance," she continued, tears welling in her eyes and pooling on her ginormous fake eyelashes. "Simon was rude to me. Randy compared me to William Hung!" Felicia said s… Continue

The "American Idol" judges were just whisked into a bank of elevators and taken up to Millionaire's Row. (Yes, Simon was wearing his signature tight T-shirt.) --Angie Fenton, The Buzz Columnist, The Courier-Journal

You can't see the 20 to 30 "American Idol" wannabes who're hoping to score the golden ticket to Hollywood. But, at least for a moment, you could hear them cheering loudly from somewhere near the Gate 10 Lobby at Churchill Downs. For the past few hours, they've been sequestered up on Millionaire's Row. In addition to passing the time by practicing -- and praying, said one family member who declined to give his name -- the hopefuls have also been filmed by "Idol" producers for possible footage fo… Continue

The sound of bugler Steve Buttleman playing "Call to the Post" over and over breaks the silence at what appears to be a nearly deserted Churchill Downs. Surely we'll see footage of him playing the famed tune when the upcoming season of "American Idol" premieres in January. The only people around are a few officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department whose job is to keep people from going anywhere the "American Idol" producers don't want them to. Between 20 and 30 hopefuls are… Continue

Christina, 23, a downtown Louisville resident who sings in her church choir, didn't want to reveal her last name. She sang Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" in front of the other Simon; Simon Fuller, the creator of "American Idol." He said she hit all the notes, Christina said, but he also noted that she turned three shades of purple in the process and that did not bode well for a prospective performer. "I'm not that crushed about it," said Christina, adding that her favorite past contestant… Continue

Nicole Turk, 25, made the top 45 in American Idol's fifth season, and she says some of the judges recognized her this time. At today's auditions, the experienced Atlanta lady sang Beyonce's "Work It Out," but, unfortunately, it didn't work out for Turk. "They told me they expected more from me," said the gorgeous gal with poufy Jennifer Hudson hair. "They told me to find my own niche." She thought picking a Beyonce tune would be the ticket, because during season five, she sang some Tina Tur… Continue

Her face streaked with tears, Aleshia Rowe, 19, is having trouble accepting that she won't be the next "American Idol." "They said my pitch was off so it was a definite no," Rowe, a South End resident said. She sang "Angel" by Amanda Perez and "they didn't aske me to sing another one...I was shocked. I've been singing since Kindergarten. I'm going to go home and cry my eyes out." She's not sure she's up for trying out again next year. Her supportive parents were at their crying daughter's sid… Continue

Ronnie Crownover, 25, is a lot more disappointed about being rejected than he looks. "It drained me. It just stunned me," said the Nashville, Tennessee resident. "I expected to go pretty far...I think (doing well) is more about how you interact with the judges." By his account, his audition, in which he sang Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror," was by no means a disaster. "When I was singing, everyone was nodding their head, liking it," he says. He adds that the judges told him he had a nic… Continue

David Casper, 16, sat on a bench outside Churchill Downs beautifully crooning "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston. Casper, whose belt buckle is a big flaming guitar, won't be moving on in the competition, but he can't stop singing. A small, appreciative crowd has gathered around him, including his mother Robin and his grandma Betty. They came from Springfield, Illinois. Following his free performance, Casper, who sings in a Barbershop Quartet, shared what he judges told him. "They said I was r… Continue