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Is Danny Gokey already a favorite to take Idol?
By April MacIntyre Feb 20, 2009, 12:28 GMT
Danny Gokey, courtesy of FOX
Of all the B Roll and backstories shown on the American Idol contestants this year, the story of young widower Danny Gokey has captured the most media attention.
Accompanied by his friends, the Church music director Danny Gokey, who lost his wife only a few weeks ago, closed out the show Tuesday night with a performance capping rendition of Mariah Carey's "Hero."
It was Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver who were selected by voters to be the first three season 8 contestants to make American Idol’s Top 12.
FOX arranged a conference call for the press with the finalists and Danny Gokey spoke candidly about his late wife saying she would have been “so happy” to see him on the show.
Grace was effusive in her love for daughter Ryan Elizabeth and about how she would balance her new found fame with the realities of having a small child. “She watches the show with all of my family and when I come on TV, she points at it and she screams for me and says, ‘Mommy!’” she said during the conference call.
Tennessee native Grace, 21, admitted to being nervous about juggling motherhood with the demanding show but said, “ I know I can get it done because I have the best family in the world and they’re going to help me out with whatever I need.”
Texas native Sarver praised Simon Cowell for helping him land a spot in the top 12, he too has small children. Only 20,000 votes separated Sarver from another contestant, Anoop Desai. Sarver said, “Simon making a plea on my behalf, I don’t take that lightly at all. I take that as a compliment,” he said. “I have no doubt it had an impact and I appreciate it.”
Milwaukee native Gokey told how he lost hs wife Sophia four weeks before he auditioned. Gokey says he is “emotionally stable now,” his wife is never far from his thoughts.
“I apologize to everybody if they feel like it’s shoved down in their face but it’s so fresh in my mind. It’s only been 7 months,” he told reporters. “Honestly, this is a sob story I don’t want but it is shaping my life, and it’s causing hope for a lot of people. Now I have my mission set in stone.” Gokey continued. “My wife would be telling all her friends, and she would be going to the store, buying clothes and trying to get herself all cute,” he said. “She was spunky and so cute and she had a little attitude to herself. She’d just be so happy.”
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I hope Danny Gokey wins. He's really good.
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americanidolexposed . wordpress . com
I like all three of them. But I really dislike the A.I. 'suits' shoving their hardluck stories down our throats every week. Everybodys got problems, we don't need to hear any more.
I know that American Idol's main objective is to get viewers, but it does seem like the show picks who they want to win by giving certain people tons of on-air time compared to other individuals getting little to no air-time.
This being said, Gokey is a great singer and I hope he goes far into the competition.
Danny Gokey is sooo cheesy. The whole pointing at the camera while telling me I'm a hero, etc. I couldn't help but laugh.
Both Rueben and Clay have been dropped from their record labels.
American Idol is a disgrace to society. It only creates a manfuactured celebrity who gets a swelled head, thinking they can live like a king (or a queen in Clay Aiken's case!) and ends up failing anyway, which fxxks them up. How many winners and runner-ups have been dropped by their record labels and end up preforming for housing development ground breakings, balloon/BBQ festivals, new mall openings, etc.
Rueb would have been better off _never_ having become a celebrity.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0319931/board/thread/131014995
Danny Gokey is totally my favorite. He should win American Idol. Last week when he say Hero is was absolutely fantastic and it made me want to cry. He has a spectacular voice and I wish him the best. I am so sorry for his loss. All I say is he is fantastic and should be the next American Idol in my eyes. I say with 100% certainty that I am totally his number one fan other than his family. If he does not win then I think it would be wrong and I wish him the best because he will make it in the music industry
I hope the judges put Ann Marie through as a Wildcard pick!!
Forget the drama. Gokey is a wonderful singer.
OH MY GOD!! I LOVE AMERICAN IDOL!! ITS SO AWESOME!! I TOTALLY WANNA BE ON IT!! I'M WAY BETTER THAN ALL THOSE BETCHES!!
Danny Gokey doesn't do it for me, I absolutely don't get the hype around him. I'm sorry that he lost his wife but that story should not have put him in the top 12. And that's exactly what happened, he got a sympathy vote. His performance was dreadful, and the song choice 'Hero' was ridiculous. In 2 years nobody remembers him anymore. To speak with Simon words, he's forgettable.
If Anoop Desai had sang the song 'The only one for me'(you tube video of Anoop)he would have made the top 3 in group one, Im convinced.If you haven't seen it yet go listen to it, this kid has the true talent this show is looking for.
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sharondkbFeb 20th, 2009 - 14:23:55
I love this guy!! He's just so adorable, has a fantastic, sexy voice, and the cutest twinkle in his eyes when he smiles! I love his funky glasses too, a different color everytime he appears. And his being a Christian (I assume) is appealing because he'd be one of the good guys, not a cussing, drinking, drugging, stab you in the back sort of guy. If i were 20 years younger I would soooo be after him, but I'm already married to a great guy. I wish him alot of luck, I really hope he wins the whole thing!! Good luck Danny!
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