MURRIETA - Residents of Southwest County have a hometown girl to cheer for in the "American Idol" competition. Joelle James, a 16-year-old songstress from Murrieta, has made it to the Hollywood round of the popular Fox TV reality show.

Joelle auditioned in Seattle and was one of 20 singers selected - out of a pool of about 15,000 people - to advance to the Hollywood auditions. The "American Idol" Web site offered "sneak peak" photos from Hollywood week - one of which features a semistressed-looking Joelle.

For anyone who's been under a rock for the last six years, "American Idol" is the show fueled by America's most talented - and sometimes talentless - unknown singers who are vetted through multiple rounds of competition. Ultimately, it is up to viewers to vote for their favorite singer to be the next winner, who will earn a recording contract and a ready-made audience from weeks of national television exposure.

The "Hollywood round" of "Idol" is when the show typically switches gears from the massive, sometimes painful auditions of thousands of hopefuls to the more specific elimination of the underdogs.

The show will be broadcast at 8 tonight on Fox.

Wednesday, the results will be revealed as 173 Hollywood-round contestants will be whittled down to 24. Those two dozen contestants will head to the main "Idol" stage in Hollywood. The rest get the hook.

How far Joelle will make it is a mystery. Under her contract with Fox, she and her family are not allowed to speak about the show. So they didn't.

Fox doesn't want to let the cat out of the bag, either. Representatives at the network said contestants are only allowed to conduct interviews after the show in which they are eliminated airs.

But the talk surrounding Joelle is still going strong, despite the tight lips of the network.

Jon Laskin, the founder of Musicians Workshop in Temecula, a nonprofit performing arts school for youths, began working with Joelle when she was 8.

"There are a few singers who when you hear them make you think 'They've got it,'" Laskin said. "Joelle has what it takes to win 'American Idol' and I think she will. It's not just her voice, but her whole presentation. I've never had any doubt in my mind about her."

Laskin invited Joelle to join The Jon Laskin Band, which opened for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at a performance at Pechanga Resort & Casino last Friday. Joelle sang the song "Georgia on my Mind," which was the same song she once serenaded Ray Charles with, Laskin said.

Skyelar Nalley, 18, has known Joelle since she was 8 years old. The two were introduced at the Musicians Workshop and both attend Murrieta Valley High School - Nalley is a senior and Joelle is a junior.

"She is a sweetheart," Nalley said of Joelle. "She has always been really ambitious; she was always the first person to want to get onstage. She had a confidence that was rare for young children, and that is probably why she is so successful. She can probably go anywhere."

This is not the first time Joelle has appeared on the small screen; she made an appearance on "Star Search" in 2003 at the age of 12. During that appearance, "Star Search" judge and country singer Naomi Judd told Joelle she had three things: "pure talent, attitude and R&B." That same year, Joelle performed on "Showtime in Harlem."

Joelle has made a name around the region, as well. The songbird is a favorite for belting out the national anthem at Padres and Angels baseball games. She has been a good-luck charm for the Angels, as the team went 6-3 in 2005 when she sang the anthem.

Even L.A. Times sportswriter T.J. Simers got excited about the Murrieta Idol as he fawned over her in a recent column.

"I've admired for years the incredible singing talent of youngster Joelle James, who has sung the national anthem at a number of local events, including for the Angels in the playoffs at age 12," Simers wrote. "Keep an eye out for her."

This has been a good year for "American Idol" alumni. Carrie Underwood, who won the competition in its fourth season, took home two Grammys on Sunday night for Best Country Vocal Performance and Best New Artist.

Even those who did not get the "Idol" crown have found fame after the show. Jennifer Hudson, who made it into the top seven in the third season before being voted off, is now nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category for her work in "Dreamgirls."

Chris Daughtry, who placed fourth on "Idol" last season, is now playing to sold-out clubs and released a No. 1 CD after appearing on the show.

Katharine McPhee finished second to fifth season winner Taylor Hicks, but that still hasn't stopped her from gracing the red carpets of Hollywood or the glossy pages of celebrity magazines. McPhee released her self-titled debut album Jan. 30.

If Joelle makes it through to the Top 24, viewers will probably get to know her a lot better - and at the very least, they'll hear her sing.

- Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.

AT A GLANCE: 'Hollywood round' of American Idol

Look for 16-year-old Joelle James of Murrieta during the 'Hollywood round' of 'American Idol,' when the top 24 contestants are selected to continue with the reality show competition judged by Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

When to watch: 8 p.m. tonight on Fox

Results broadcast: 9 p.m Wednesday on Fox