Danny Gokey: American Idol Top 3 Finalist Goes Home to Milwaukee to Gear Up

It was a long, somewhat rocky road getting to the American Idol Top 3, but Danny Gokey got there just the same without too much trouble. He, Kris Allen, and Adam Lambert are now set to face-off to see who contends in the finale for that coveted title, becoming Season 8's American Idol. Danny Gokey ran afoul of the American Idol judges a few times (all but Paula Abdul), but never the voters (although that screech at the end of Aerosmith's "Dream On" had a few people worried). Last week saw his first appearance in the dreaded bottom three (then bottom two). And now, just one live perfomance and vote away from the Season 8 finale, Danny Gokey went home to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for some hometown support.

In what has become a tradition on American Idol, the top three finalists are flown home to celebrations of their successes and the American Idol viewing audience is treated to the highlights in a clip shown on the Top 3 performance show.

According to the Associated Press, the city of Milwaukee had a full day of events slated for the church music director and he started the day off at his church, Faith Builders International Ministries, where he did what he does naturally -- he sang. He then made stops at various locations around the city of Milwaukee: the bronze statue of television icon "The Fonze" from "Happy Days" (the sitcom was set in Milwaukee), the Harley Davidson Museum, Discovery World, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and several radio and television stations (for the obligatory interviews, of course).

Then came the parade. Joined by Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Nick Barnett and Ruvell Martin, Danny Gokey and the parade in his honor flowed through downtown to the lakefront festival grounds. While there, Danny performed for his hometown fans.

Danny Gokey's day ended at Miller Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, where he threw out the first pitch and enjoyed the game.

Then it was back to Hollywood to rehearse and gear up for the upcoming performances on Tuesday. The finalists will sing two songs, one of the judges choosing and one of their own choice. According to Foxes on Idol, Danny Gokey's judges choice is Terrence Trent Darby's "Dance Little Sister," a number that should be well suited to his blue-eyed soul style of vocal stylings.

Some contend that the only reason that Danny Gokey is even in the Top 3 is the huge outpouring of sympathy for him at season's onset when it was revealed that his wife, who had pressed him to audition for American Idol, died four weeks before he auditioned in Kansas City. In fact, according to MTV UK, he mentioned his wife's passing while performing at his church Friday, telling the audience how shocked he was at her death and how he couldn't even weep. Her funeral had taken place in that very church.

Danny Gokey's road to the Top 3 on American Idol, though quite successful, has been tempered with loss. Besides losing his wife, his grandfather passed away just over six weeks ago as well.

There are others that think he has stayed alive in the competition because Christians are voting for him, the same contingent that undoubtedly kept Brooke White in the competition in Season 7. And there might be some truth to both theories, of garnering the sympathy and the Christian vote. Still, there is little doubt that his chances of going home last week rose when he let out that final scream that he admittedly thought was hilarious and his own aunt muted. But there is no doubt that Danny Gokey can sing and, even though he is a bit clumsy while performing and he tends to shout his way through some lyrics, he has remained popular enough to make the Top 3.

Because American Idol, besides being a singing competition, is also a popularity contest. Many believe that if Allison Iraheta had shown more personality sooner, Danny Gokey would have said his good-byes last week.

But he did not. He and Kris Allen and Adam Lambert continued onward toward the American Idol finale.

Although Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul have both stated publicly that they believe Adam Lambert will probably win this year's competition (Simon Cowell said that it would probably come down to Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert because they were the best two singers), nothing is set in stone. Besides, Kris Allen has shown an amazing ability to survive and may be the most talented all-around artist still in the competition.

MTV UK listed Danny Gokey's odds of winning American Idol at 3-2. Not bad for the just-turned-29-year-old crooner.

He sings with his Top 3 contenders, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, Tuesday evening on Fox Television.

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Sources:

Associated Press

MTV.co.uk

Foxesonidol.com