Danny Gokey
Gossip

... November 24!

Sorry for the tease. We just couldn't help ourselves.

But Adam Lambert's debut album will hit stores exactly one week after that of friend and rival Kris Allen. Responding to the success of his DonorsChoose.org campaign, Lambert Tweeted today:

"Over 86K raised by http://www.donorschoose.org... ! Thank you guys so much! keep it coming! fyi my album drops Nov 24th!"

We speak for fans everywhere, Adam, when we say: FYI, we can't wait!

Meanwhile, Danny Gokey, who finished fourth on season eight of American Idol, has landed a deal with 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville.

Said Sony Music Nashville chairman Joe Galante: "We absolutely love Danny. We haven't had anybody like that (in country) since Ronnie Milsap or T. Graham Brown."

Will you purchase Gokey's first album? Or are you too focused on Lambert's to even concentrate? November 24, people!!!

The winner of American Idol will either be Adam Lambert or Kris Allen.

But Danny Gokey isn't too sad over his name being left off that list, following the finalist's elimination last week.

"My whole testimony is overcoming," Gokey told reporters over the weekend. "Overcoming the impossible in my life, and now I want to take that message and tell people, 'If I can do it, you can do it.'"

Specifically, Danny is referring to the sad fact that his wife died just a few weeks before his initial American Idol tryout.

American Idol title or not, Danny Gokey keeps a smile on his face.

During this summer's tour with his fellow top 10 finalists on the show, Gokey plans to take his inspiring message on the road. He'll also continue charity work for Sophia's Heart Foundation, an organization named in honor of his wife.

"I was a nobody, and this show turned me into somebody and I'll always be thankful for the roots that I came out of because I do believe that still the best has yet to come for me," Gokey said. "This is not the end of the road."

He had a great voice, a great (albeit tragic) personal story and a great run on American Idol.

But Danny Gokey did not have what it takes to make the finals, as the singer was eliminated last night after solid, but unspectacular, renditions on Monday's performance show.

Ryan Seacrest caused our hearts to stop for a few moments last night, as he initially announced that Kris Allen had made it through to next week's finale.

That left Danny and Adam Lambert in the bottom two, as a nation feared the latter might actually not take his rightful place among the show's winner.

In the end, though, Ryan announced that over 88 million people voted, Lambert was safe and Danny was going home.

"This whole experience feels like a dream come true.  American Idol has given me a whole new hope for my life," said Gokey during a video montage of his journey, reflecting on how far he's come since his wife passed away last July. "It's almost like a fairy tale story.  You read about tragedies, and then you read about the triumph that comes through it - and I'm that person."

Did America make the right choice? Did Gokey deserve to go home?

Relive Danny Gokey's American Idol experience above. Click on each image to enlarge it.

When it comes to predicting the American Idol final pairing, Randy Jackson is going out on a limb shorter than Ryan Seacrest.

During an appearance at Amtrak’s National Train Day in Washington D.C. (seriously, it's a real thing!), the judge predicted next week's finale to come down to Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert.

“Adam Lambert is definitely the lead winner if we had to choose today. He’s got the vocal chops, he’s a good-looking guy like myself, and he’s got that star potential,” Jackson said. “I think it’s going to come down to him and Danny [Gokey] in the finale.”

Are you a Lambert Lover or a Goke Head?

As for rumors that fellow panelist Kara DioGuardi might not return to the judges’ table next season, Randy said:

“I think everybody will be back. I think you will see the returning cast.”

Welcome, celebrity gossip and news readers, to The Hollywood Gossip's Caption Contest - the 81st edition of our weekly, Friday afternoon tradition!

When a hot pair of American Idol hopefuls, Allison Iraheta and Danny Gokey, react to a startling piece of news, funny captions abound. But none better and more timely than the one sent in by omg. Check out the winning entry below!

"

"Carrie prejean posed topless?"

Back in March, the American Idol spoilers on the street were that the fix was in and the show's producers were doing what they could to ensure Danny Gokey and Alexis Grace as the top two, with Lil Rounds and Adam Lambert right behind them.

But with Rounds ousted last week and Grace not even making the top 10, that isn't happening. Guess you can't believe every spoiler you read.

It’s still no surprise, though, that Simon Cowell named Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert as his hopeful top pair at a press conference this week.

"I would put my money on Adam and Danny," the judge said. "It is going to be Adam and somebody. I would like to see Adam and Danny because I think they are the best two singers, and at the end of the day that is what should happen."

Adam Lambert has to be the favorite at this point, but perhaps Danny can make a run yet. Or will someone else spoil this party? Vote in the poll below ...

The next American Idol should be ...

It's an American Idol tradition, on par with receiving criticism from Simon Cowell and smiling through Paula Abdul's jibberish.

Each year, the show's finalists attend BritWeek, an event created by producer Nigel Lythgoe. The event celebrates the link between Great Britain and the Los Angeles area.

At the 2009 edition, Adam Lambert and company got into the spirit of the occasion, posing for pictures and boogieing the night away with an Austin Powers impersonator...

Click on the photos above to enlarge images of American Idol's final five finalists at BritWeek.

Is American Idol already a two-man race?

Last season, it wasn't too far into the finals when it became clear that David Cook and David Archuleta would be the pair to beat.

Similarly, two singers stood out - way, way out - over the others on last night's opening set of finalist auditions:

1. Adam Lambert turned the Michael Jackson song "Black and White" into a theatrical event that caused Paula Abdul to cry, Kara DioGuardi to say he hit notes she never knew even existed, and even Simon Cowell to acknowledge he was in his own league. Dude has serious confidence and talent.
2. Danny Gokey brought the crowd to its feet with a version of "PYT." Cowell said the vocals were “brilliant,” while the dance moves were ludicrous. Abdul already anointed him an almost-winner, saying: “I think you’re on the way to the finals.”

Your American Idol Top Two? Who is your favorite so far: Adam Lambert or Danny Gokey?

It's still early in the competition, of course. What singers might give Lambert and Gokey a run for their crooning money?

Lil Rounds didn't disappoint with a rendition of "The Way You Make Me Feel." We also loved Matt Giraud at the piano and Kris Allen on the guitar.

CLICK ON THE PICS BELOW FOR A LOOK AT EVERY FINALIST ON STAGE LAST NIGHT. WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE SENT HOME?

Robert Downey Jr. failed to win an Academy Award this week for his performance in Tropic Thunder.

Perhaps it will serve as comfort to the actor, however, that a man that looks very much like him has won the hearts of American Idol fans nationwide.

Indeed, it's early in the competition, but Danny Gokey has to be considered the favorite at the moment. The talented crooner was one of the first three contestants named to the finals on season eight.

Do you see the resemblence between Gokey and Downey?

You've heard them sing in front of a national audience.

Now, let's see what the first three finalists on this season of American Idol - Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver - have to say about their experience so far. Each spoke to reporters this week about life on the show...

Gokey, on his late wife, Sophie: “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 [since her death]. 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.”

Grace, on being compared to Kelly Clarkson by Simon Cowell: "It just motivates me to do better in the competition and be myself and really connect with songs that I choose."

Sarver, on his working-class appeal: “I believe that real life people can relate to me, especially in the economy and the day that we live. It’s very difficult for a lot of people, and I see it as a chance to see someone rise from the ashes... I think people relate to that and it’s special to their hearts.”

Which of these American Idol finalists is your favorite so far? Click on each pic for an enlarged version.