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JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. -- Could the next “American Idol” be from the Southern Tier? If you tune in to the hit singing competition over the next few nights, you just may see Tony Cortez of Johnson City.

The 20-year-old sent in an online audition to the show and made it all the way to New York City to be part of the televised try outs.

Cortez, who has been a fan of the show since its inception, has been singing since he was 11-years-old and says making it to the big stage was something he always dreamed of.

"Seeing the show as a young kid and every time just wishing that I could be there and that if I could go through auditions, it would be amazing and the fact that I actually got there and actually got a call back and made it that far was big," said Cortez.

Cortez says after Idol, he plans to continue looking for similar opportunities to showcase his talents.