Yee-haw! American Idol season 8’s top 3 guys all have record deals finally, and the latest signing reveals he’s got a country twist.
It was announced today that Danny Gokey, the raspy-voiced crooner who finished third behind Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, has signed with 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville.
While on the show, Gokey was touted as a soul singer. He earned high praises for his wild performance of Michael Jackson’s “PYT” and for his sensitive rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” But it turns out his performance of country tunes like Rascal Flatts‘ “What Hurts the Most” was more his speed.
“I was so wet behind the ears, I didn’t know where I wanted to go,” he said of his time on Idol. “But I most related to the message and the music of country.”
Gokey is expected to head into the studio to begin work on the as-yet-untitled album after wrapping the American Idols Live summer tour on September 15. A single is predicted for the end of fall with the album coming in March.