Danny Gokey Returns to Milwaukee for Grandfather’s Funeral
I just received a phone call from Danny this morning.
He was on his way back to California from a few days back in Wisconsin. Somewhat expected, Danny’s grandfather went to be with the Lord this past week. The funeral was yesterday in Milwaukee. Our prayers go out to Danny and the whole family.
In addition, Danny was able attend church at Faith Builders on Sunday before the funeral.
It was unannounced, and I’m sure you can imagine how excited everyone was to get an opportunity to see him. He said this morning that it was just so good to be in service and see everyone and receive the Word of God. He’s refreshed and ready to go!
He was up with Pastor Jeffrey Pruitt before the service and as soon as praise and worship started, he wanted to get into the sanctuary right away because he just couldn’t wait to get into God’s presence.
Based on his very hectic schedule on “American Idol”, he is not able to go to church much out in California. They keep you pretty much on a tight schedule.
One thing I can tell you from a personal viewpoint: Danny is still the same guy he was a few months back. Obviously this guy’s life has changed in so many ways, but he is still the upbeat, fun, real Danny we know. He sincerely loves God and is just a “down to earth” guy! He keeps things in perspective and stays grounded by what got him there!
Danny said, “It was real tough to see Michael Sarver being eliminated last week, Michael is the real deal” and he is going to miss him tremendously.
He said that he is so glad that he’ll get to hang with him again in the summer concert tour. Danny and Michael are very close friends and even spent time together in prayer. They were also roommates on the show. As I’m sure you all are aware, Michael is a very strong family man and was looking forward to being at home with his wife and daughter.
Until next week, vote, vote, vote.
Danny Gokey #4 on EW’s Power List
March 30, 2009 by Amy
Filed under Danny Gokey
4. Danny Gokey: (Last week: No. 3) The endless stream of praise from the judges’ panel ended with his somewhat clumsy rendition of “Get Ready,” which could mean they’re turning on the early front-runner, or might just represent an attempt on their part to appear “fair and balanced.” Whatever the case, the polarizing personality hasn’t missed many notes in the competition — save for those so-so verses in “Jesus Take the Wheel.” Now it’s his task to start proving he’s got the originality and freshness to succeed in a post-Idol world.
Danny Gokey Loves Pedicures
March 27, 2009 by Amy
Filed under Danny Gokey
Rickey.org has a post up about a video from American Idol Extra where the contestants talk about their guilty pleasures. Danny loves pedicures!
Danny Gokey Top 10 Results
March 26, 2009 by Amy
Filed under American Idol
Danny is safe for another week! Congrats!!
Danny Gokey Mentored Milwaukee Kids On Their Journey to Adulthood
Danny Gokey Safe According to Early Results
March 26, 2009 by Amy
Filed under Danny Gokey
DialIdol.com is reporting Danny came in 3rd in voting. Definitely enough to call him safe!
Danny Gokey Performs “Get Ready” for Top 10
March 25, 2009 by Amy
Filed under American Idol
Danny Gokey — Top 10 Performance MP3 (iTunes)
Danny Gokey — Top 10 Performance Video (iTunes)
Danny Gokey – Top 10 Performance on Rickey.org
See all the screencaps in the gallery
This week was Motown week and Danny sang “Get Ready”.
First off, I thought he looked great without his glasses while talking to Smokey Robinson. Looks like practice went a bit smoother than last week. The performance was a classic Danny performance. Paula was right that he is consistent. I agree though that it wasn’t his best performance. But I loved his trademark growl during the chorus and he got the audience going. Definitely enough for him to sail through to Top 9.
USAToday: Is Danny Gokey outta site, or just alright?
March 25, 2009 by Amy
Filed under American Idol, News
Danny Gokey sounds good on The Temptations/Rare Earth hit Get Ready, though he’s every bit the geeky dancer he was a couple weeks ago on Michael Jackson (bet he’ll be glad to get out of the Motown catalog, ’cause it’s not doing him any favors). But considering tonight’s best performance — especially the one he’s having to follow — good isn’t good enough tonight. Actually, it’s probably good enough to stick around, but performance-wise, Matt, Kris and, especially, Adam had it all over him.
Top 10 Song Spoiler
March 25, 2009 by Amy
Filed under American Idol
According to MJ’s Big Blog he will perform towards the end of the show singing “Get Ready” by – Temptations – Carie’s husband really liked him. Used his growly voice.
Danny Gokey’s Top 10 iPhone Video: Life Before Idol
March 25, 2009 by Amy
Filed under American Idol
Danny was a truck driver??
In this week’s video, he thanks everyone who voted for him. Danny says a lot of people want to know about his history and he wants to share what he’s done in the past. His craziest job he didn’t care for was a semi-truck driver for about 2 years. He likes to work in the non-profit and youth arena but at one time he could not find work so he had to take the job. While he drove the truck, he read a lot (business, self-help), slept a lot, caught up on phone conversations and sang all the time while he drove.
Other people want to know what he misses pre-Idol and he says honestly nothing. Before Idol he had a 3 year stretch where he was working full-time and also doing music at night and on weekends which added up to about 80 hrs/wk. He feels like Idol picked him up and saved him. He closes by saying he really enjoys the video confessionals and hopes to do more.
American Idol Baby Photos: Who’s Who?
March 25, 2009 by Amy
Filed under Danny Gokey
We’ve seen part of this picture before…
“I was musical [as a kid],” says this singer from Milwaukee, “but I don’t think I really understood I was good until my dad complimented me once [at age 12] – and it changed by life.” Can you guess who he is?
“We would always sing with my family at church,” says Gokey, 28, who lost his fiancée just weeks before auditioning for Idol. “I love my family, they mean a lot to me. They’ve always been supportive of me.”
American Idol Baby Photos: Who’s Who? – AGE 1 – Dancing With the Stars : People.com.
The Associated Press: `Idol’ finalists savor group prize: concert tour
March 25, 2009 by Amy
Filed under American Idol, Interview, News
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The top 10 “American Idol” finalists say they already count themselves as winners: They’ve earned a place on the show’s nationwide concert tour.
For Adam Lambert, the summer tour means the chance to buy a condo. Danny Gokey sees it as a financial boon as well. Michael Sarver fervently echoes that and looks forward to his version of a rock-star perq — ice cream, and lots of it.
“I have a major problem with ice cream. I should probably go to Ice Cream Anonymous meetings,” he said.
Sarver and his fellow contestants laugh when asked about any divalike demands, but they’re serious about the opportunity ahead of them.
“I didn’t know my situation if I had to go back home without the tour. … things are not easy right now,” said Sarver, 27, an oil-rig worker from Jasper, Texas, who’s married with two children. “This says I have work this year. It’s a blessing.”
Lambert, 27, of Los Angeles figures it’s about time he owned his own home. Megan Joy, 23, from Sandy, Utah, is looking forward to a little personal space for her and her toddler.
“I get to finally move out of my mom’s house,” she said, gleefully.
Dates and tour locations have yet to be announced for the tour, which follows the show’s May 20 finale. On this week’s shows the contestants were set to perform Motown tunes.
What they’ll be paid for the tour is kept under wraps by producers. Even the contestants were uncertain a week after making the cut.
“I keep hearing that it’s plenty,” said Kris Allen, 23, of Conway, Ark. “That’s nice.”
Of course, there’s more than money at stake — the chance to connect with fans and to build a career are the real plums, the finalists said.
“It still seems like a dream. … I can’t wait to see what I learn doing it,” said Matt Giraud, 23, of Kalamazoo, Mich.
The tour is “an amazing opportunity,” agreed Anoop Desai, 22, of Chapel Hill, N.C., calling “American Idol” the “biggest stage and best stage of all.”
The typical “Idol” concert swing lasts more than three months and includes 50 or 60 concerts, including stadiums. The contestants travel by bus.
“That’s what I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid, is going on the road and playing night after night … to share my music with whoever will listen to it. That’s what I’m here to do,” said Scott MacIntyre, 23, of Scottsdale, Ariz.
The finalists have bonded as housemates during the course of the TV show and expect the camaraderie — and the fun — to continue on tour, Lambert said.
Asked if he expects to be the demanding pop star, he laughed. “No, I take what I can get. I only like to play the part of the diva when I’m actually performing, but I don’t like to act like that otherwise,” he said.
Most expect to travel light, with cell phones and computers among the items mentioned as must-haves. Gokey, 28, of Milwaukee, whose wife died shortly before he auditioned for “American Idol,” says his computer has “all my pictures on it. Basically, my whole life’s on it.”
The youngest finalist, 16-year-old Allison Iraheta of Downey, Calif., will be bringing along her schoolwork and maybe a parent.
“My mom might be going on tour with me, so it will be interesting,” Iraheta said.
Lil Rounds, 24, of Memphis, Tenn., is hoping her husband and three children can visit her when the tour is close to home.
“The babies understand what I’m doing and they’re proud,” Rounds said.
She and her fellow contestants are just beginning to grasp their sudden shift in fortune.
“I went from singing at a church in front of maybe 70 to 80 people to a national tour. It’s absolutely amazing,” Rounds said.
For all the excitement the concert tour promises, the contestants want to believe it’s just the start of something big.
“I’ll definitely be sticking around, I hope, after all is said and done. I’m not stopping,” said MacIntyre.
Gokey wants the same.
“It’s so exciting to be on the road and fulfilling the dream that I’ve had. I’m hoping it’s just the beginning,” he said.
via The Associated Press: `Idol’ finalists savor group prize: concert tour.
