CHICAGO (CBS) — Hundreds of people lined up outside the United Center Thursday, and they all had one thing in common – they wanted to be the next American Idol.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Elizabeth Lucas, 19, drove to Chicago all the way from Jamestown, N.Y., to try out for “American Idol.”

“In our hometown, we have a Chautauqua Lake Idol, and I made it into that, and so all the people from that told me that I should come do this, and so now I’m here doing this,” Lucas said.

People from Miami, Pittsburgh and even Utah turned out. So did locals, such as Marcus McCray, 18, of Glendale Heights.

“I don’t know if I’m ready, honestly. My friends told me I’m good, so we’ll see what happens with it, you know?” he said.

“American Idol” has been on the air on Fox TV since 2002. Its ratings have seen some slippage over the years, but they remain sizable.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports