Danny Gokey: An American Idol Crosses Over to Country Music

In previous seasons, the hit FOX-TV show “American Idol” has flirted with country music and incorporated it to its regular programming. This is evidenced by guestings from well-known country artists, such as country sensation Martina McBride who served as a guest mentor in April 2007. Over the years, country music aspirants have also dominated the American Idol. Among these, Carried Underwood remains as the most popular of the group, even going on to win Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2007.

With the popularity of Ms. Underwood even among mainstream audiences, country music has been further ingrained among American Idol participants and audiences alike. Today, the latest American Idol to join the country music bandwagon is Season 8 third placer Danny Gokey.

Gokey, a 29 year-old former church music director, has served as the worship director at his church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In his interviews, he mentioned that he would like to try other genres other than christian music to which he is normally associated. Gokey has a background in gospel music and, in fact, is more well-known for his soulful performances throughout Season 8. However, he said in a statement that his experiences in American Idol provided him with a “musical direction … there were country songs that I performed on the show, and it was the message and the feeling in those kinds of songs that helped me realize that country is where I belong.” Gokey’s notable performance of famous country songs such as “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts and “Jesus Takes the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood on Season 8 of “American Idol” may have helped him decide to go the country route.

Showing confidence in his decision to go country, according to Gokey, “I grew up in a family where I was exposed to music from artists like Alan Jackson and Wynonna and Brooks & Dunn, and when Randy Travis was on the show and asked me if I’d ever considered country music, it was one more sign of where I knew I needed to be.”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine, Gokey revealed that his debut offering will be country-inspired although in “a newly marketed way. It’s funny how country has taken a turn. Country, it’s more about the message than it is the twang. As you know from the past and how I pick songs on the show, I always picked a song to me that had a strong message. And that’s what to me country carries.” The third placer in the previous season of FOX-TV’s hit show, Gokey is set to release his debut disc on RCA Nashville, the country music arm of RCA Records. According to an RCA representative, Gokey’s single will be released this fall, after which the debut disc will be released next year.

In an interview given to USA today, Joe Galante, Chairman of Sony Music Nashville expressed his enthusiasm and said, “We absolutely love Danny. We haven’t had anybody like that since Ronnie Milsap or T. Graham Brown. Every time that guy got up to sing, he held my attention.”

Gokey is currently on tour with fellow Idol finalists on the American Idols Live! Tour 2009, which will end on Sept. 15 of this year.