LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The search is on to find some of the hottest singers in the country, and on Monday, the challenge for those trying to become the next "American Idol" was to not get too hot before they had a chance to show their stuff.

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"If the sun's not making me hot, the nerves are," said contestant Allen Assaid of Dayton, Ohio.

"It was really bad waiting in line this morning," said contestant Sara Leep. "It was awful."

"I am staying in as much as I can, because it's hot out," said Shellaine Privatt.

Comfort is one thing, but trying to stay fashionable in sweltering heat made things even more difficult.

"You know, you just basically have to pick what looks best on you," Assaid said. "I brought a ton of clothes to come down here so I could pick and pair and match what looks best, and I got my good friend Hailey's advice, and she helped me out. So this is what I am wearing today."

There is also another concern.

"The humidity is just awful, and once you try to sing in the humidity and the more you sing, the rougher your voice gets," Leep said.

"I am worried about it getting dry, because that would be no good," Privatt said.

"It's hot, but it's so exciting that you almost forget about the heat," said Louisiana's Melanie Lupo, whose daughter was auditioning.

"All I know is I don't want to look back five years from now and wish that I had done this because by then it might be too late," said Assaid. "You just have to reach for the stars, I guess."

The American Idol hopefuls who made it through Monday had to sign a disclosure and weren't allowed to do any interviews.

They will now have to come back in September and audition in front of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.