Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Can Danny Gokey become the next Kellie Pickler? Or Carrie Underwood?

Apparently that will be the goal. A week ago, Danny said he’d have a record deal soon and that he was going country.

The news became official Wednesday when 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville announced his signing. Fans can expect a single late this fall and a country album around March, according to the news release.

Of course, we sort of knew during their Idol runs that Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler would wind up singing country music.

Not so with Danny. Even he admits that.

“I was so wet behind the ears, I didn’t know where I wanted to go,” he says of his musical direction when he started his Idol journey. “But I most related to the message and the music of country.”

And in a video interview last week, Danny noted that country music has changed considerably in recent years, with the cross-over success of artists like Taylor Swift and former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker.

“If you listen to me, there’s no twang in my voice,” he says, adding that country music has become “more about the message than the twang.” Here’s a link to the video.

It won’t be the first time an Idol contestant has gone country after the show. Phil Stacey’s first album was country. Like with Danny, it’s a musical direction he found during the show.

Danny, 29, will start working on his album in Nashville after the current Idol summer tour ends.

And don’t forget, the Idols will be in Reading on Tuesday. You’ll find details and ticket info under the Idols in the Area section at the right of this blog.