Regional Auditions
Auditions began July 17 the previous year, and were held in the following cities:
| Episode Air Date | Audition City | Date | First Audition Venue | Callback Date | Callback Venue | Golden Tickets |
| January 13, 2009 | Phoenix, Arizona | July 25, 2008 | Jobing.com Arena, Glendale | September 2008 | The Boulders, Scottsdale | 27 |
| January 14, 2009 | Kansas City, Missouri | August 8, 2008 | Kemper Arena | October 5, 2008 | Firestone Building | 27 |
| January 20, 2009 | San Francisco, California | July 17, 2008 | Cow Palace | September 13, 2008 | Westin St. Francis | 12 |
| January 21, 2009 | Louisville, Kentucky | July 21, 2008 | Freedom Hall | September 7–8, 2008 | Churchill Downs | 19 |
| January 27, 2009 | Jacksonville, Florida | August 13, 2008 | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena |
September 3, 2008 | Amelia Island Plantation | 16 |
| January 28, 2009 | Salt Lake City, Utah | July 29, 2008 | EnergySolutions Arena | September 18–19, 2008 | Wells Fargo Center | 13 |
| January 29, 2009 | New York, New York | August 19, 2008 | Izod Center, East Rutherford | August 26, 2008 | Chelsea Piers, New York | 26 |
| San Juan, Puerto Rico | August 2, 2008 | Coliseo de Puerto Rico | September 2008 | Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza | 9 | |
| Total Tickets to Hollywood | 149 | |||||
Contestants were required to be between the ages 16 and 28 on July 15, 2008 and eligible to work in the United States. Contestants were ineligible if they had previously reached the semifinal in Season 1-3 and 7, or the top 44 from season 4 and 5, or top 40 from season 6. They were also ineligible if they held then current recording or management contracts or if they were not U.S. citizens or landed immigrants (i.e. temporary residents).
One auditioner who received widespread publicity was Katrina Darrell, also known as "Bikini Girl", for auditioning in her bikini. She reached the Hollywood stage but was cut in the group round.
Read more about this topic: American Idol (season 8)
Famous quotes containing the word auditions:
“Addison DeWitt: Your next move, it seems to me, should be toward television.
Miss Caswell: Tell me this. Do they have auditions for television?
Addison DeWitt: That’s all television is, my dear. Nothing but auditions.”
—Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909–1993)