Danny Gokey Meets With MTV Following The Results Show:

Danny Gokey Performing Live on Amercian Idol

While the 28-year-old widower’s life story put him in the spotlight, his talent was front and center Tuesday night when he impressed the judges (and voters) with Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” Danny spoke with us about his friend Jamar Rogers’ surprising dismissal and how early exposure helped him advance.

Q: How do you feel about all the early attention you’ve gotten?

A: I’m honored that people support me. I think very highly of everyone that supports me. It’s just an honor to see that they think this way of me and that they want to see me succeed — people that I’ve never met. I just hope I can keep them all the way through the competition.

Q: You seemed to get a lot of attention on the show early on, when others in the top 36 were barely featured. Do you think that extra attention helped you advance?

A: I do feel like I was highlighted. There’s no getting around that. I didn’t do anything to get that. I can say this: I’m grateful that they would do that. I have no control over it. I know everyone’s not gonna like me, but it’s a bummer when people are real mad about it, and I hope people can see past that. I genuinely just love to sing, and that’s what I want to do.

Q: Your friend Jamar Rogers is one of the most-talked-about castoffs from Hollywood Week. Were you as surprised as the fans that he wasn’t put through to the top 36?

A: I was mad. … I expected him to go through. … I even said, “I’ll see you in the top 36,” after I made it through and we were talking. I was just so confident that he showed his ability and what it takes to get there. Disappointment was completely in my mind and heart. But he’s received such recognition, I know it’s not the end of the road for him. He’s got a bright future, and it doesn’t stop here. It only gets better from here.

Q: Are you worried that the focus on your wife’s death will take attention away from your music?

A: People coming in from the outside view probably think it’s too much, but it’s only been seven months since she’s passed. This is who I am. It’s not that I throw it in people’s faces, but I get asked about it all the time. … It weighs on my mind a lot, though, because, honestly, this is a sob story I don’t want. I don’t want this story. But it is shaping my life, and it’s causing hope for a lot of people and it’s causing hope for my life. I didn’t want to live anymore when she passed. But now, I have my mission set in stone of … who I am. There’s a fun side to me that’s gonna come out. I apologize to everybody if they feel like it’s shoved down their face, but it’s so fresh in my mind.

Q: Was it hard to stay composed during the results show with Tatiana del Toro being a ball of emotions right next to you?

A: With Tatiana, you expect the unexpected. But she really is a great person. She wants it so bad. You see the desire and the passion in her. At times, that can maybe hurt her image on TV. I maybe looked calm and cool, but I wasn’t inside. … I really tried to keep the look. I tried to, but I just hope it doesn’t come off the wrong way to the American public — or the voters, I should say. I’m not the president. [Laughs.] I was preparing myself to go home. Anything could happen. Tatiana showed up that night. I think she had the surprise element. I said, “No matter what, I got my message across.” I wanted to go out gracefully.

Check Out MTV.com for the full Interview with the other Top 12 Contestants.

Tags: Gokey Gear, interview, mtv, top 12