Danyl Johnson
Gossip

You've heard him sing.

Now, watch and listen to Danyl Johnson talk about his sudden rise to fame.

The X Factor contestant, who caused Simon Cowell to remark that he put on "the best first audition I have ever heard," appeared on Today this morning.

Asked by Matt Lauer about his rise to fame, Johnson said: "It's been pretty mental," an understatement considering his initial audition has been viewed over one million times on YouTube.

A teacher, Johnson said he was pushed to try out for the British version of American Idol by his school children. As for his long-term music goals?

"I guess my dream is to get an album out there and write songs and really enjoy it."

We wish him the best of luck with that.

First, The Beatles. Then, Susan Boyle.

Now, Danyl Johnson is prepared to become the next European singing sensation to visit the United States.

The X Factor contestant, who received glowing praise from Simon Cowell following his rendition of "With A Little Help From My Friends" on Saturday night, will appear on the Today show next week.

As impressive at the 27-year old teacher was on the program, an ITV source admitted: "Not even we expected things to move this quickly."

While the Internet is buzzing over Johnson as the next Boyle, a more apt comparison may be to Leona Lewis. She was named the winner of The X Factor in 2006, after all.

Approximately one million people have watched this balleyhooed performance on YouTube. We've made it easier than ever to watch this Danyl Johnson video. Do so and then leave a comment about the singer!

There's nothing we can say about Danyl Johnson that wasn't summed up perfectly by the most critically honest judge on reality TV:

“That was single-handedly the best first audition I have ever heard,” said Simon Cowell on a recent episode of Great Britain’s version of American Idol, The X Factor.

Johnson, a 27-year-old schoolteacher, brought the crowd to its feet with his rendition of the Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends."

Diana Vickers, a semifinalist on the show last season, pretty much echoed Cowell's thoughts. Over the weekend, she Tweeted:

Looks like I'm gonna have to watch The X Factor after all! Lets see how this goes down... Eeeeeeeek. Teacher man was awesome... that's about it!

What is all the fuss about? See for yourself?

Danyl Johnson Audition