Danny Gokey Takes A Break From Touring To Visit CHOA

October started off on a musical high note when singer, Danny Gokey, from American Idol Season 8, stopped by THE VOICE at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta! Having had only one hour of sleep the night before (he is currently on tour with Taylor Swift), Danny Gokey came in with a big smile and untappable energy to be interviewed by Tim Michaels, afternoon radio host from Atlanta’s country station, Kicks 101.5. Gokey had plenty of words of encouragement for patients. He shared a quote, by Charles Swindoll, that has meant a lot to him throughout the hard times in his life. “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”

The American Idol star has taken this quote and fused it into many aspects of his life. Gokey founded Sophia’s Heart, a foundation, in honor of his late wife, that takes in homeless families and gives them a place to live and food to eat. By the end of the year, Gokey is hoping to have helped 19 families with the foundation. He also shared his performance rituals with the fans at Children’s. Before every show, he loosens up by shaking out the nerves and while he never looks at the faces of people in the crowd, he enjoys seeing his audience up and dancing!

Gokey’s vote for the perfect song to dance to is “Get Away” off of his album "My Best Days". Of course, he couldn’t come into the studio filled with American Idol fans without talking about his experience on the show. Gokey said, at first, his nerves were horrible on American Idol. One time when the show came back from commercial break he couldn’t remember the first line of the song he was singing. He was very nervous, but as soon as the music started, his natural talent took over and he remembered the words. Patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta loved having Danny Gokey at THE VOICE! He is an inspiration.

In addition to his natural ability as a performer, Gokey has overcome hard times and has grown stronger from his experience.

Now, he is taking the lessons he has learned from those hard times and helping others.