LAS VEGAS -- The eighth season of "American Idol" is about to kick off its audition process, and the judges won't be stopping in Las Vegas.

Contestants wanting to belt it out for Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell will have a chance beginning July 17 in San Francisco.

There will be eight stops during this year's audition process:

Thursday, July 17: San Francisco
Monday, July 21: Louisville, Ky.
Friday, July 25: Phoenix
Tuesday, July 29: Salt Lake City
Saturday, Aug. 2: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Friday, Aug. 8: Kansas City, Mo.
Wednesday, Aug. 13: Jacksonville, Fla.
Tuesday, Aug. 19: East Rutherford, N.J.

To audition, you must be 16 to 28 years old by July 15. Fore more information about the audition process, visit the "AI" Web site.