Gina Venier advances to next round on 'American Idol'

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just saw <a href="https://twitter.com/GinaVenier">@GinaVenier</a> kill Put The Gun Down on <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanIdol">@AmericanIdol</a>! So proud of you girl!!! <a href="https://t.co/Yb0o4x5zKj">https://t.co/Yb0o4x5zKj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PutTheGunDown?src=hash">#PutTheGunDown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/idolpremiere?src=hash">#idolpremiere</a></p>— ZZ Ward (@ZZWard) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZZWard/status/553391387429728256">January 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

DIXON – Gina Venier’s Nashville audition on “American Idol” aired Thursday night on Fox.

(Drumroll ...)

The 24-year-old Dixon native is heading to the next round of the national singing competition.

[ Click here to see video ]

During the televised audition, Venier played her cajon, a box-shaped percussion instrument, while singing ZZ Ward's "Put the Gun Down."

ZZ Ward shared her thoughts on Twitter on Thursday night: "Just saw @GinaVenier kill Put The Gun Down on @AmericanIdol! So proud of you girl!!!" The tweet also linked to video of of Venier's audition via YouTube.

“I can’t wait to watch it all unfold,” Venier said Thursday night to Sauk Valley Media.

Alex Fischbach, 19, of Morrison, also auditioned and will appear on the Jan. 21 episode, which airs at 7 p.m. on Fox.

Stay tuned for more coverage of both artists’ quest for stardom.