Idol Chatter & Voice Views

American Idol kicked off its Season 13 auditions in Salt Lake City Thursday.

And the show’s ratings might be tumbling, but that didn’t keep hundreds from showing up to try out.

Idol producers estimated they’d see 3,000 aspiring singers, “a good number for us,” according to a story in the Salt Lake Tribune.

They also showed off the new golden ticket that will be used in Season 13 in a video aired on Fox 13 News from Salt Lake City.

Of course, that’s likely to be one of the most minor changes for a show that will have at least two new judges and new executive producers.

Idol will be stopping in six more audition cities — San Francisco on July 16, Detroit on July 21, Atlanta on July 26, Boston on Aug. 2, Austin on Aug. 7 and Omaha on Aug. 11.

The show also encourages online auditions. Head here for more information.

Here are photos from the Salt Lake auditions.

Who knows? We might see one of these faces when Idol returns to the air in January.

American Idol hopefuls wait for the auditions to begin in Salt Lake on Thursday. (FOX Photo)

Auditioners rally before the singing began at the Salt Lake American Idol auditions on Thursday. (FOX Photo)

American Idol hopefuls by the hundreds turned out in Salt Lake City, the first audition site for Season 13. (FOX Photo)

Signs like these probably don’t help once the auditions begin on American Idol. (FOX Photo)

Fans enjoy themselves pre-audition as the American Idol tryouts kicked off in Salt Lake City. (FOX Photo)

Yep, preparations are already under way for American Idol Season 13, with auditions kicking off in Salt Lake City this week. (FOX Photo)

Some of the scores of aspiring singers who turned out for the American Idol auditions in Salt Lake. (FOX Photo)