More than half a dozen Cullman County residents are planning to put themselves in the line of fire Monday as they seek an audition for the sixth season of American Idol.

Some are doing it on a dare, others are doing it because they think they have a good shot of impressing judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul and making it to Hollywood.

The Times put out a call for all those planning to make the trip Monday to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, here are the contestants who responded.

Randy McBrayer

This 19-year-old West Point graduate and criminal justice student at Wallace State Community College is no stranger to competition or performing in front of famous people.

McBrayer made it through the preliminary round of the 2005 Nashville Star competition, allowing him to sing at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.

The son of Carolyn and Dale McBrayer and little brother to Michael taught himself how to play the guitar on an instrument his parents bought him when he was 7. He played with the high school FFA Band at the organizations national convention, with Vice President Dick Cheney and Randy Owen of the country music group Alabama in the audience.

McBrayer's song choice for the audition will be one of two Rascal Flatts songs, "Praying for Daylight" or "God Bless the Broken Road."

He said he doesn't have any plans for an elaborate costume or a gimmick of any kind.

"I'm just going to be me," he said.

Harmony Kelly

Kelly is another West Point High School graduate and is a music major at Wallace State while working at the Sub Way shop in Wal Mart.

This is her first time to try out for any type of talent competition, but she's sang in choir for four years.

She is majoring in music and elementary education at Wallace State.

Samantha Oden

As the wife of local legislator Jeremy Oden, 27-year-old Samantha Oden of Eva might seem like the odd man out in the bunch, but she's been singing for half of her life and besides, it was a dare.

Her friend Lydia Lambert is also intending to try out and mentioned to Oden she should try out as well.

Oden said her husband agreed and a dare was issued.

The daughter of Sammy and Martha Nelson has been successful in other talent competitions, having won the Alabama Baptist Association Youth Talent Show in 1995.

Her goal for Monday, she said, is "actually get to audition out of the thousands there trying.

"I don't really have any expectations since I'm pretty much doing this on a dare."

Oden said she will sing either "Memories" from the Broadway musical "Cats," or a song from "The Mask."

Lydia Lambert

At 28, Lydia Lambert of Fairview just makes the cutoff in age requirements for Idol contestants.

Married to Berlin Baptist Church pastor Rob Lambert, she is a graduate of Good Hope High School and attended Wallace State where she was a cheerleader and president of the Baptist Campus Ministries. She is the daughter of Jerry and Linda Clements of Hanceville.

"I've been singing in the church choir since I was 5," Lambert said.

She's been in several talent shows, winning at the Cullman County Fair's annual contest and becoming a semifinalist in the Exalting Him 2005 national talent search.

Lambert said the main thing she dreads about the Idol auditions is the crowd. Anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 people are expected to audition.

She'll be singing Etta James' "At Last" for her audition. She said she's not too worried about the judges because she takes criticism very well.

"I think I'll do OK," she said. "It's not the end of the world if I don't get it."

Kyle Bennefield

If you've been roaming the halls of Hanceville High School in the last month or so, you've probably heard the turn "Isn't She Lovely" being sung or hummed. That's because 17-year-old senior Kyle Bennefield has been singing the song so much it's caught on.

"Everybody's been singing that song in the halls," Kyle said. "They'll see me in the hall and start singing it."

One of 10 children of Karen and Richard Bennefield, Kyle has been performing with the Hanceville High School Singers for three years and the school choir for one. He said he had to audition to make the HHS Singers.

He said everyone at school has been supportive of his efforts, especially his music teacher, Linda Akin.

"There couldn't be anyone more supportive or encouraging," he said.

"My goal is to make it to the top," Kyle said of American Idol aspirations. "I know that I have talent. If I don't make it I'll be disappointed. I know I have a gift, it's talent from God. If I don't make it, God didn't want me to."

Cassie Calvert

Another West Point graduate, 19-year-old Cassie Calvert said she's been singing since she was a small child. She is one of several young vocalists who will be accompanied to the tryouts by voice coach Julie Graham of Julie's Gymnastics. She is a student in Wallace State's cosmetology program.

This will be her first time to audition for American Idol, but not the first time she's performed in front of judges or a crowd of people.

"I have been in many other talent shows and competitions and have entertained on various occasions," she said.

The daughter of Contance Calvert and Timmy Calvert said she will sing either "It's Raining Men" or "In God We Trust."

Her goal, she said, is "to go and give my best and remember that this will not make or break me."

Courtney Simmons

Another Graham student, Simmons is a graduate of Vinemont High School and will start classes at Wallace State on Tuesday.

Simmons has been singing since she was 4 and participated in numerous competitions.

"I have been in many talent shows like the Cullman Fair talent show and I also won the Relay For Life talent show," Simmons said.

She said she will sing either "Redeemer" or "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" for her Idol audition.

Tela Washam

This 19-year-old Belk associate is another Cullman talent not unknown to talent competitions.

It's her goal, she said, to accomplish her dream of becoming a professional singer.

To that end, she's entered and won several talent contests, being named the 2004 Alabama Idol winner and winning the county fair's talent show four times. She was also runner-up in the Country Colgate Showdown.

A graduate of Holly Pond High School, she is the wife of Michael Washam, the daughter of James and Debbie Kincer and the granddaughter of Bobby and Dorothy Johnson.

She will also sing "At Last" for the judges.

"Whatever God has in store for me, I'm ready," she said.

Others who are said they were considering trying out included 26-year-old Misty Freeman, 18-year-old Cassie Reed and 16-year-old DJ Neal of Baileyton.