Thousands of people hoping to be the next Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson or even Sanjaya lined up outside Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego today as auditions for the seventh season of “American Idol” began.

Six more auditions are set in the coming weeks:

• Dallas [Texas Stadium] - August 6, 2007
• Omaha [Qwest Center] - August 10, 2007
• Atlanta [Georgia Dome] - August 14, 2007
• Charleston [North Charleston Coliseum] - August 18, 2007
• Miami [AmericanAirlines Arena] -August 22, 2007
• Philadelphia [Wachovia Center] - August 27, 2007