Three from NC advance on American Idol

The very first contestant was David Leathers Jr. from Fayetteville! This 17-year-old (a.k.a. "Mr. Steal Your Girl") wowed the judges with his renditions of "Remember the Rain" by the 21st Century and "Never Can Say Goodbye" by the Jackson 5. It didn't take them very long to all say yes and pass him into the next round.

But he's not the only one in our area to get that coveted golden ticket.  

Ashlee Altise, a 28-year-old sales associate from Kinston, first showed off her signature dance move: the joy hop. Then she busted out "Come Together" by the Beatles. She impressed the judges – with both her moves and her singing – enough to make it to Hollywood.

When you add Brittany Kerr, a 24-year-old NBA Dancer from Charlotte, that's at least three out of 42 singers going to Hollywood hailing from North Carolina.