NATCHEZ &045;&045; Simon Cowell won’t be here, but the judging may be just as tough.

Sponsors are expecting a huge crowd, soon to be narrowed to 26, for the first ever Natchez Idol open casting call tonight.

&uot;We have been receiving so many phone calls about this,&uot; FOX 48 Promotion Manager Noah Authement said. &uot;It could very well be the winner of Natchez Idol that could go to ‘American Idol’ and be seen on TV.&uot;

Anyone in the listening area of 95 Country, KISS 97.3 or 105.1 &uot;The Groove&uot; and viewing area of FOX 48 is eligible to audition at Main Street Marketplace.

From the open casting call, one contestant will be ranked No. 1 and 25 others will be sent to the next round.

The No. 1 contestant receives an automatic bid to the final round, while the 25 others will compete next week on the radio, 95 Country. Voters will call in for their favorites after hearing radio broadcasts. From there a Top 10 will be named. The 10 contestants and the original No. 1 will compete at a live concert on June 25 at the Main Street Marketplace. Performers at this level must have their songs memorized and will sing to music.

Judges will select the Top 3 contestants. Voters will choose the winner, who will be sent to the &uot;American Idol&uot; season four auditions in New Orleans later this year.

Sponsors will pay the way of the Natchez Idol and provide hotel accommodations in New Orleans.

The Natchez Idol competition is officially sanctioned by &uot;American Idol.&uot;

Authement said FOX 48 has sponsored a similar competition in Alexandria in the past.

Contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 24. Registration begins at 4 p.m. at ends at 7 p.m. Contestants in the first round will sing one verse and one chorus a cappella to the judges.

The judges include Tony Fields, choral director for Alcorn State University; Dorothy Houze, dance school owner and instructor; Mark Porter, afternoon drive personality and host on 95 Country; Layne Taylor, theatre director/actor and member of Natchez Chamber of Commerce and Lena Yarbrough, aerobics instructor and athletics coach.

The public is invited to attend and admission is free.

Sponsors include FOX 48, 95 Country, KISS 97.3, 105.1 &uot;The Groove&uot;, Natchez Ford and Main Street Market.