娱乐英语新闻:American Idol auditions draws thousands in Mass.

BEIJING, June 15 -- Heavy rain didn't stop thousands of "American Idol" hopefuls from turning out Sunday for the show's Season Nine auditions at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

    Some of these wannabe superstars showed up around 3 a.m. Sunday to grab their place in a line that eventually grew the length of the stadium and into the parking lot.

"American Idol" hopefuls react to the camera as they wait in line for auditions to begin at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, June 14, 2009. 'American Idol' is kicking off Season Nine auditions in Foxborough.

Contestants wore high heels, cowboy hats, and sported umbrellas declaring that they were the next big thing. But to move on in the competition, hopefuls had to convince the first round screeners that they were worthy of a call back.

    "It would mean the world to me," said Brittany Edgett, 25, a resident of "four or five towns" in New Hampshire. "I'm just trying to make a better life for me and my daughter and my boyfriend ... trying to get a little better in life than what we've been dealt so far."

    The kickoff auditions attracted around 7,000 contestants from all over the East Coast, including New England, New York and as far south as North Carolina.

    Besides having talent, courage and perhaps a thick skin, auditioners must also be between the ages of 16 and 28 and eligible to work in the United States.

    Tiffany "Shorty" Dorsey, 20, of Walpole, Mass., believed she had all that. While waiting in line for more than four hours, the 20-year-old used gel and other chemicals to fashion her hair into a faux mohawk. She promised to sing and dance to "Play That Funky Music" for the judges.

    "I've got my friends with me. I'm loving it," Dorsey said.

    Others fought to keep up with their planned wardrobe as the rains came. Melody Nardone, 26, of Buffalo, N.Y., called the weather "treacherous" while she struggled to keep her makeup fresh. "My mascara was running," Nardone said.