The Unofficial Danny Gokey FanSite

Happy Birthday, Phil Stacey!
Song Choices From Orlando
Idols in the News
First look: Kimberly Caldwell’s sexy new video
Could Carrie Underwood be any cuter?
Adam Lambert urges help for Haiti
‘Idol’ Orlando auditions: So-so
dannygokey: Isn’t making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool? Im just saying…

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:43 AM PST

Season 6 finalist Phil Stacey turns 32 today. We first met Phil during auditions, when his wife gave birth to their second daughter, McKayla, while he was away. Luckily, he hurried back home with a golden ticket in his hand to meet the new bundle of joy. While on American Idol, Phil soared to the Top 6 and got to travel around the nation with the Top 10 finalists on the American Idols LIVE! 2007 Tour.

In spring of 2008, Phil Stacey released his self-titled debut album, which peaked at #8 on the U.S. Country charts. In 2009, Phil switched from country music to Christian music, and released Into the Light, his second album. The album, which was released in August, made it to #27 on the Christian charts.

Lately, Phil has been touring around the country and singing at churches and colleges. On December 29, Phil and fellow Season 6 finalist Melinda Doolittle performed at figure skater Scott Hamiltons Holiday Concert on Ice.

Happy Birthday, Phil!

View photos of Phil performing on a Season 6 performance show.

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Song Choices From Orlando

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:43 AM PST

Orlando auditions featured songs that are new, old, classic, and popular. Whether it was a song you heard a contestant sing or one that was featured in the background of the show, we have them all here for you.

Title: Treat Me Like Your Mother
Artist Version: The Dead Weather
Contestant: n/a

Title: When You Wish Upon A Star
Artist Version: Disney
Contestant: n/a

Title: Don’t Stop Believin’
Artist Version: Glee Cast
Contestant: n/a

Title: I Feel Pretty
Artist Version: Naxos
Contestant: n/a

Title: Heartbreaker
Artist Version: Pat Benatar
Contestant: THEO GLINTON

Title: Dance With My Father
Artist Version: Luther Vandross
Contestant: THEO GLINTON

Title: Blame It On The Girls
Artist Version: Mika
Contestant: n/a

Title: We Are The Champions
Artist Version: Queen
Contestant: CHUCK ESPINOSA

Title: Fix You
Artist Version: Coldplay
Contestant: n/a

Title: Someone to Watch Over Me
Artist Version: … read more
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Idols in the News

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:43 AM PST

Season 8’s Top 2 finalists are continuing to perform well with music sales. Kris Allen’s single, “Live Like We’re Dying,” has sold approximately 500,000 downloads, charting at #27 on the Soundscan singles charts. Adam Lambert’s debut single, “For Your Entertainment,” has sold just over 200,000 downloads. Kris Allen’s album has sold about 240,000 copies, and Adam’s has sold about 460,000.

Season 2 finalist Kimberly Caldwell will release her debut album, Without Regret, on April 6^th, 2010. Produced by Marshall Altman, the album features four songs co-written by Kim. In addition, Diane Warren, Kara DioGuardi, and Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger penned tunes on the CD. The songs on this album range from full-throttle rock to powerful and emotional ballads. Kimberly, who sang Melissa Etheridge’s “Come to My Window” for her very first performance on American Idol, also covers Melissa Etheridge’s “Sleep While I Drive” on Without Regret. Kimberly has worked for the past few seasons as a co-host on TV Guide’s Idol Tonight.

Season 3’s American Idol, Fantasia, announced the official production lineup for her upcoming third album. Joining her on the new album will be Los Da Mystro and Rico Love, Tricky Stewart, Novel, Jim Jonsin, and Claude Kelly.Also lending a hand will … read more
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First look: Kimberly Caldwell’s sexy new video

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:43 AM PST

Eat your heart out, David Cook! Season 2's Kimberly Caldwell invited Idol Tracker to stop by the set of her video for the song "Mess of You," which was shot at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (her debut album, "Without Regret," is scheduled for release on April 6). And though it was her first time emoting, lip-syncing and strutting her stuff for a music video, Caldwell, who dated Cook just after his Season 7 win, seemed totally at ease, not just with the hair, makeup, fabulous outfits and all the fussing, but also getting thisclose to model Daniel Durakovic, with whom she nuzzled frequently — in the clip. Feeling comfortable in 5 1/2-inch heels, however, was another matter.

Caldwell arrived at 7:30 a.m. and, hopped up on Red Bulls, was ready to go all day and night. But first, she took some time out from shooting for a quick Q&A.

You're playing opposite a body double here. Is this to demonstrate that there are two sides to Kim?
With this song, I didn't want the lyrics perceived as, the guy's gonna mess her up. I wanted it to be like she's doing this to herself again. So there is Kim the Protector, the one that's telling her to get out now, and the other Kim who is really naive and a hopeless romantic. She just
wants to believe that all people are good and don't do
wrong. It was important to me that neither one of
the Kims is portrayed as a victim, because I want every song on the album, and
this first single especially, to be an empowerment song for women. And if you play the victim, you'll be the victim.

How would you describe the look of the video?
First of all, I am completely shocked and thrilled that we got the Roosevelt Hotel. It's the most perfect place you could ever imagine and really ties into my album artwork, which we shot at Union Station. So it's all old Hollywood glamour. All day, I've been thinking this is way cooler than any kind of wedding day I'll ever have.

What are you wearing?
The first outfit is like a really sleek modern black dress, and the shoes are literally the most rockin' bad ass heels alive, but they hurt more than life itself. I feel like I'm going to need ankle replacements after this. The second outfit is literally my everyday look: leggings with a little leather on them, a blazer and a tank top. Plus, I'm wearing my personal accessories. For months, I would just flip through magazines, tear out pictures and pull ideas.

How did you pick your hot video boy?
The modeling agencies literally send over a gajillion head shots, and you just kind of pick your dream
boy, so I felt like the Bachelorette for a second. But I had him pictured in my head, and as soon as I saw Daniel's picture, I knew he was the one. I
didn't want him to look like the typical douchebag. I wanted him to look
like the guy that even smart women who've been messed up before
by guys would fall for. Then when I met him, he's the most
kind-hearted, sweetest guy and has made me laugh all day long. I wanted him
to have a charm, but be edgy and look a little dirty. He looks like he
hasn't bathed in two weeks, which is perfect for me.

As someone who's offered expert commentary on "American Idol," what do you make of Simon Cowell leaving the show?
To be completely honest, I think Simon is what has made "American Idol" such a phenomenon, and without him, it's really going to be missing something. The loss of Paula [Abdul] of course affected the show, but the loss of Simon is going to really impact the show. At the same time, even if you cut their ratings in half, they're still the No. 1 show, so I don't think it matters. But I'm a huge fan of Ellen's [DeGeneres], who is amazing, so I just want to see what her role is going to be.

– Shirley Halperin

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Photo: Kimberly Caldwell and video boy Daniel Durakovic; Credit: Adrian Sidney

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Could Carrie Underwood be any cuter?

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:43 AM PST

Neil Patrick Harris tweeted this ridiculously adorable pic of Carrie Underwood, who's guest starring on "How I Met Your Mother" this March. A couple weeks ago, Carrie's role was described as a pharmaceutical sales rep and potential love interest for Ted (Josh Radnor). But NPH's "You'll love the way we fly" caption and Carrie's little "Catch Me If You Can" number (not to mention the plane interior and rows of seats) makes us think she's playing a stewardess … in 1968. Ah, those kooky HIMYM folks — always keeping us guessing.

How would you caption this photo?

– Shirley Halperin

Follow @IdolTracker on Twitter

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Adam Lambert urges help for Haiti

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:43 AM PST

Adam Lambert joins forces with "Entertainment Tonight" and the Red Cross to urge viewers to "do something that will make a difference" for the millions who are struggling in Haiti.

"Don't just let the images on television fade to black," he says in a heartfelt plea. Check out the clip below.

Go to RedCross.org for more information about making a donation.

– Shirley Halperin

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‘Idol’ Orlando auditions: So-so

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:43 AM PST

There was no more appropriate soundtrack to "American Idol's" Orlando auditions than the classic Disney tune "When You Wish Upon a Star." After all, most of the hopefuls who came through Amway Arena were, in a word, dreaming.

But that's what we love about these early "Idol" episodes. Anything's possible. Some contenders split their pants, others get arrested. But when it comes to talent, golden tickets were few and far between in O-Town. Or, should we call it, So-so Town.

Still, there were a few standouts, mostly guys with a soulful bent. And Kristin Chenoweth who cracked us up. The girls were good, but not great. Read on for our four favorites…

Seth Rollins: Starting the episode off with a teary story of his son's autism, this gentle giant with a sweet disposition won countless new devotees with his heartfelt rendition of "Someone to Watch Over Me." His advance to Hollywood is a no-brainer for the producers. Their choice in background music (Coldplay's "Fix You")? Not so much.

Jermaine Purifoy: Another silky smooth, unassuming singer, this Jermaine character has serious raw talent. His take on Tony Bennett made Kara sit up and notice, blew Randy away and reaffirmed Simon's star power prerequisite: "The chicks will like you." Oh so true.

Cornelius Edwards: Just when you think you've had enough of "Pants on the Ground," there comes this limber hopeful whose jeans-splitting performance of "Proud Mary" was by far the most memorable of the night. Take away the wardrobe malfunction, and his voice impressed too, though it's a wonder if anyone paid attention.

Matt Lawrence: This was an unusual sob story — two-bit criminal graduates from bank robber to the Hollywood stage. And with nary a trace of irony, he chooses the song "Trouble" by Ray Lamontagne to audition with. He's got the voice and seemingly the humility, but the jury's still out on this one.

– Shirley Halperin

Follow @IdolTracker on Twitter

Photo: Pictured from left are judges Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Kristin Chenoweth and Randy Jackson. Credit: Michael Becker / FOX

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