BILOXI --In a cosmic confluence of celebrity concerts, Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry, two of the biggest stars of "American Idol," will perform back-to-back shows in Biloxi next month.

Hicks will perform Aug. 3 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Tickets went on sale May 18 and are still available. Prices start at $40 for the cheap seats. The one-night-only show comes the night before Daughtry performs at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. That show sold out in mere hours, and is the third appearance the rocker has made in Biloxi in less than a month. Daughtry was one of many celebrities who participated in opening ceremonies at the Hard Rock last week and headlined the sold-out CPR Fest XI at the Coliseum later the same evening.

Hicks' self-titled debut has already been certified platinum and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts. His single "Heaven Knows" is currently sitting comfortably in the Billboard Top 25, and he recently wrapped the first leg of his promotional tour. Daughtry's debut went double-platinum in only eight months, and his tour continues through the summer. His band has shattered nearly every industry benchmark for success, including digital and mobile sales and number of weeks at the top of the charts.

Also, Daughtry's release has remained in the Top 10 every week except one since its release, and is the first album in nearly 20 years to hit No. 1 after debuting below that spot, shattering the record previously held by Bon Jovi's 1988 release "New Jersey."

Hicks and Daughtry were classmates on the show's fifth season, with Hicks ultimately winning the competition after Daughtry was unexpectedly voted off the show near its finale.

The two "American Idol" alums' styles could not be more dissimilar, but their presence here accentuates the fact that South Mississippi has appeared on the national radar in a big way.