Snellville, Ga. ? One thing is for certain. A teenage singer from the South will be the next “American Idol.”

The question is which one: Sixteen-year-old Diana DeGarmo of Snellville, Ga., or 19-year-old Fantasia Barrino of High Point, N.C.

Both were to perform three songs each Tuesday night before a live, nationally televised audience in Los Angeles, and the phone lines were to be open for four hours — twice as long as usual — to give fans plenty of time to cast their votes.

Viewing parties were scheduled in their home states, including one in the Georgia governor’s mansion in Atlanta.

Gov. Sonny Perdue declared Tuesday “Dial for Diana DeGarmo Day” in Georgia. He asked all Georgians to show support for DeGarmo by watching her on the Fox singing competition and voting for her by phone. The proclamation was accompanied by detailed instructions on how viewers can call in for DeGarmo.

Members of her family planned to watch Tuesday night’s episode from the governor’s mansion with about 200 friends and neighbors from Snellville, an Atlanta suburb of nearly 18,000 people. The party then moves to the 71,250-seat Georgia Dome for tonight’s two-hour finale, where the “American Idol” winner will be announced.

In North Carolina, Barrino’s home state, Gov. Mike Easley also urged residents to show support for their “favorite daughter.”

“He encourages people to watch the show and vote for the best talent — and that’s Fantasia,” said Ernie Seneca, a spokesman for Easley, who is a fan of the show.

Easley sent a letter to Barrino last week inviting her to visit him regardless of the outcome of the final “Idol” voting. He described Barrino as an “amazing talent” and a “larger-than-life personality” that has made her a star to millions of North Carolina residents.

The show’s judges — Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell — have said they think Barrino is the better singer, but they function only in an advisory role.

Fox's American