If Meridian’s George Barnett has his way, he’ll become the gospel-tinged version of American Idol.

Barnett, 25, made the essential first cut of the Gospel F.O.C.U.S./”Find Out Can U Sing” regional competition recently in Atlanta.

Since judges had the daunting task of paring down 500 aspiring gospel stars to a group of 30, singers faced the added pressure of being granted only a snippet of their usual performance time.

“I was wondering what part of the song to do to impress the judges in only 20 seconds,” said Barnett, a music major at Meridian Community College. “Basically, as soon as you open your mouth, everything about you has to show.”

But although Barnett’s rendition of the hymn “Sweet Holy Spirit” may have been brief, it was enough to impress — and to place him in the semi-finals next month in Cleveland, Ohio.

Barnett credits his mother, Rose Marie Barnett, of Heidelberg, with instilling his confidence as a singer when he was a child.

“My mom is powerful, very powerful,” Barnett said.

With his mother then serving as choir director at Salem Baptist Church in Paulding, Barnett couldn’t help but be exposed to a myriad of old hymns growing up. It was his mastering at 5 years old of the standard “We’ll Understand it Better By and By” that caught his mother’s ear.

“She gave me the mic at church one night and told me to sing,” he said.

Barnett has been singing at church ever since, and says he still sings almost every Sunday at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Laurel. He was recently hired as choir director at St. Peter Baptist Church in Vossburg.

“The black church is like a foundation to a beautiful house,” Barnett said.

Stacey and Terrell Thompson of Meridian were so moved when they heard Barnett sing, that they asked him to sing in their wedding ceremony last year.

Among the songs Barnett performed for the couple was a cover of Luther Vandross’ ballad “Here and Now.”

“I have a DVD of my wedding video, and everybody’s focused on him. He has their complete attention,” said Stacey Thompson, a social worker at Alliance Health Center with whom Barnett used to work. “When he sings, you can feel the spirit moving.”

Word of mouth has led Barnett to be hired to sing at other weddings, Thompson said.

Barnett considers the late Malaco recording artist Frank Williams to be one of his greatest gospel influences.

“You’d see him helping other artists, and singing in so many different groups — like the Jackson Southernaires and Mississippi Mass Choir,” Barnett said.

Barnett also feels a kindred spirit with Williams’ strong tenor styling, and ability to easily segue from performing solo, to being part of a quartet or choir.

“No other music makes you feel like gospel can,” Barnett said, although he does admit to enjoying secular artists like Luther Vandross, Brian McKnight, and Floetry.

Whether or not he wins the gospel talent search, Barnett wants to expand his musical ministry nationwide.

“I long for the opportunity to travel, and to go from city to city singing,” Barnett said.

Barnett’s mother, Rose Marie, couldn’t be prouder of her son’s aspirations to make his mark in gospel music.

“Someday, with the blessings of God, I truly pray that he will make it to the heights he wants to reach,” she said. “He’s singing from his heart, and that makes all the difference.”

Barnett’s singing career also has the support of his girlfriend, Ronnisha Staten, 24, a Cingular sales representative in Meridian.

“I’m very proud of him. He’s actually stepping out and doing what it takes to reach his goals,” said Staten, who first met Barnett when the two sang together in the Meridian-based Young People of Praise choir. “He inspires me to go on with my dreams.”

In the tradition of many a budding star, Barnett continues to work by day in jobs unrelated to singing — including his present position as a business analyst for Encore Payment Systems, and previous stint as a mental health technician at Alliance Health Center.

If Barnett survives the semi-finals, he’ll be one of 13 singing acts nationwide to vie for top honors this Fall in Detroit, home base of Gospel F.O.C.U.S. producer Frontline Productions.

The Word Network — whose gospel programming is carried on DirecTV and some local cable systems — plans to televise the upcoming rounds of the talent competition.

At stake for the winner is a prize package including the chance to host their own 30-minute television show on The Word Network, a song track on Gospel Truth Magazine’s CD sampler, a trip to Bermuda, and $5,000 in cash.