The Unofficial Danny Gokey FanSite

Kris & Allison Chat About Idol and New Year’s Eve
Kimberly Caldwell talks debut album, duet dreams
Idol Tracker 2010: All aboard!
dannygokey: Rain + cold + shooting music video = frozen Danny. I have good news My single is available for purchase on iTunes this Monday-December 21st
dannygokey: My phone is rebelling against me. I swear I typed massage!!!!! Lol. I dropped my I phone and cracked the screen. Now it hates me. Haha
dannygokey: Omg…..I just had the best message ever! I think the masseuse had special magic glitter powder sprinkled on her hands. Must reschedule soon
dannygokey: RT @CorinneAzzaline: RIP Chris Henry…no matter his past, he was a father and three children lost their dad today…tragic and sad :(
dannygokey: Charlotte you were great last night. We should probably do it again soon. But now off to Nashville Im shooting my music video tomorrow!!

Kris & Allison Chat About Idol and New Year’s Eve

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:15 AM PST

Season 8s American Idol, Kris Allen, and top girl, Allison Iraheta, will be performing in Las Vegas for FOXs New Years Eve show. On a press call, Kris and Allison discussed their upcoming New Years Eve performance, plans for 2010, and more.

Both Kris and Allison are excited for the opportunity to perform in Vegas with FOX. Who wouldn’t want to be in Vegas performing? Allison asked. “Its pretty much an experience of a lifetime for me and for both of us. It’s going to be a lot of fun, said the redheaded rocker. Kris is also excited to participate, and partly because hes never been to Las Vegas before. In the past, Kris and Allison would celebrate the new year by eating with their loved ones.

Although they didnt mention what theyd be singing, both artists alluded to singing two songs a piece. Allison said of all of Kris songs off his self-titled album, she likes Live Like Were Dying and Red Guitar the best. Kris likes the song that Allison co-wrote, You Dont Know Me, from her debut album, Just Like You. They also toyed with the idea of performing an acoustic duet to Allisons track, Dont Waste The Pretty.

Do Kris and Allison have any resolutions for 2010? Kris said he plans to work harder on music stuff just writing and performing and all that. Allison joked that … read more
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Kimberly Caldwell talks debut album, duet dreams

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:15 AM PST

79994-2_KimCaldwell WithoutRegret album cover
Thanks to a co-hosting gig on the TV Guide Network's weekly "Idol Wrap" show and a stint on MTV's latest P. Diddy vehicle "Starmaker," Season 2 finalist Kimberly Caldwell has remained on the "American Idol" radar long past her seventh-place finish in 2003. It shouldn't be any wonder, really. She's bubbly, beautiful, and personally speaking, I've rather enjoyed our little televised gab fests over the years. Now the 27-year-old blond belter is getting ready to roll out her debut album, "Without Regret," and has opted to leave TV behind so she can focus on a music career. "This is pretty much what I've prepared for my whole life," says Caldwell, speaking exclusively to Idol Tracker. "I'm so glad I took a few years to figure out who I really was as an artist and then put out this album without any regrets."

Hence the title. But the sentiment, Caldwell insists, goes way beyond career choices. "It's really all about empowerment," she says. "And being human. I was able to just lay it out there, let go and really open up. In the studio, I would turn off all the lights, light a candle, close my eyes and just sing my heart out. I'm really proud of these songs."

Caldwell wrote four of the album's 11 tracks, and with titles like "Going Going Gone," the single "Mess of You," "Say Love," and "Heart Like Mine," in which she laments, "It's not OK treating me this way / I'd rather let you break my heart than live with your mistakes / Because you'll never break another heart like mine / Too late," it's easy to go to that place and wonder if a certain "Idol" winner is the person she's hypothetically singing about. Or at least, I went there. "I swear to you, it's really not about one person," says Caldwell, who famously dated Season 7's David Cook just after his crowning. "I took experiences not only from relationships I've had with guys but also friends that have let me down, my father, things like that. I didn't want any of it to be vacant or come off fake. I wanted it to be as authentic as possible."

Indeed, judging from an early listen to "Without Regret," Caldwell delves into deep emotional territory, with a guitar-driven grit and rock 'n' roll fury that's a clear reminder of why she made it to "Idol's" Top 12 in the first place. She credits several people for finding her true sound: longtime mentor and award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, producer Marshall Altman (Matt Nathanson, Kate Voegele), and Melissa Etheridge. "She is, like, my idol," Caldwell declares with a reminder that her own performance of Etheridge's "Come to My Window" was the "Idol" moment she's "best known" for. "She called me when I was on the show and said she liked my rendition and was proud of me, so I covered another one of her songs, 'You Can Sleep While I Drive,' and dedicated it to her on my album. I was just kind of paying it forward. I wanted her to know that she inspired and pushed me to keep going."

In fact, Caldwell is so hell-bent on getting a copy of "Without Regret" into Etheridge's hands that she's starting to sound like a stalker. "I don't know if I'm going to have to stand outside of her house and wave my arms up and down, but I've gotta get her my CD for sure," she says with a laugh. "I love her so much and it's been a dream of mine to do a duet with her … or just be where she is."

She's speaking professionally, of course, since these days, Caldwell mostly has radio, press and touring on the brain. (Dare I say it: From a music compatibility standpoint, Caldwell would be a great opener for Cook!) And if her album art is any indication, she's prepared for the promo onslaught physically too. "I'm just being healthy and am so focused right now," she says. "I'm working out as much as possible, I'm in the best shape of my life and am finally emotionally, mentally and physically prepared to be an artist."

But even with the single headed to radio in February (you can hear a snippet of "Mess of You" on her myspace page) and the album scheduled for release in April on Vanguard Records (the label run by Lawrence Welk's grandson) via Capitol/EMI, Caldwell is still pinching herself. "Over the years, a lot of music opportunities came up and nothing ever panned out," she says. "It's amazing that I've now got the best of two worlds: I'm on one of the great independent labels and lucky enough to be a major-label artist. I'm freaking out because it's finally all happening."

– Shirley Halperin

Photo credit: Vanguard/Capitol Music Group

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Idol Tracker 2010: All aboard!

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:15 AM PST

Wow. Was it really just over a year ago that we were first introduced to the phenomenon known as Adam Lambert? When Kara Dioguardi was still finding her groove as the fourth judge? When Paula Abdul still had a job?! It seems like only yesterday I was writing about Ruben Studdard's big upset over Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks' phenomenal run, David Cook's winning campaign and Jennifer Hudson's film debut. How time flies between American Idol seasons, or does it just stand still when the show is on? Either way, it's here to stay, and I'm here to cover it for you.

Like many loyal Idol Trackers, I was sad to read Richard Rushfield's farewell post in July. There's no doubt he is among the most voracious Idol followers I've ever met, and also a skilled reporter and talented writer — a winning combination. I can only strive to provide the same level of attentiveness that Richard dedicated to our favorite singing show, but I'm sure as heck going to try. Over the years, I've covered Idol for a number of outlets — among them: Us Weekly, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and Teen People — where I did my best to report on all the angles. You should expect the same here.

It'll trickle out kind of slowly in the coming weeks as the holidays get the best of us, but follow IdolTracker on Twitter for the latest updates and come back often in the new year. For now, in the interest of getting to know each other, I present:

10 Idol-related facts about me…

10. One of my music business mentors was Billboard Magazine's late, great editor-in-chief Timothy White. His former assistant? Kara Dioguardi.

9. True story: I inadvertently played matchmaker in introducing Constantine Maroulis' brother to his (now) wife.

8. Despite having missed a couple of deadlines on last year's weekly critics ranking the Buzzmeter, my prediction record was near perfect on Season 8. Here's hoping for a repeat performance.

7. I once had an embarrassing moment with Ellen Degeneres backstage at a Rob Thomas concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. She may remember it, she may not. Here's hoping it's the latter.

6. I occasionally like to make fun of David Archuleta, but it is without malice, I assure you. I think the little bugger is adorable.

5. One time at an Idol finale party, I got mistaken for Randy Jackson's wife — by Janice Dickinson! That's how dedicated I am to covering this beat: I'll literally attach myself to a judge.

4. I have a soft spot for Season 3's Jon Peter Lewis. Then again, who doesn't?

3. My favorite Idol of all time is David Cook. As a proponent of all things rock, he personifies the kind of Idol winner I can really get down with. Plus, he's cute and not 12 years old. (Take that, Archie!)

2. Two summers ago, I spent eight days on the road in England and Ireland with the Foo Fighters. It was my Almost Famous dream come true. That has nothing to do with Idol, I just like sharing it whenever there's an available forum.

1. I've never met an Idol I didn't like. Well, maybe there have been one or two, but I'll keep you guys wondering …

- Shirley Halperin

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dannygokey: Rain + cold + shooting music video = frozen Danny. I have good news My single is available for purchase on iTunes this Monday-December 21st

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:15 AM PST

dannygokey: Rain + cold + shooting music video = frozen Danny. I have good news My single is available for purchase on iTunes this Monday-December 21st

Follow Danny’s Twitter

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

dannygokey: My phone is rebelling against me. I swear I typed massage!!!!! Lol. I dropped my I phone and cracked the screen. Now it hates me. Haha

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:15 AM PST

dannygokey: My phone is rebelling against me. I swear I typed massage!!!!! Lol. I dropped my I phone and cracked the screen. Now it hates me. Haha

Follow Danny’s Twitter

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

dannygokey: Omg…..I just had the best message ever! I think the masseuse had special magic glitter powder sprinkled on her hands. Must reschedule soon

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:15 AM PST

dannygokey: Omg…..I just had the best message ever! I think the masseuse had special magic glitter powder sprinkled on her hands. Must reschedule soon

Follow Danny’s Twitter