Since his shift to Christian music, God has opened so many doors in the industry, Dannys career has skyrocketed. He says there was no specific encounter with God; there were several instances where Danny saw God and found Him. The two announced their engagement on December 25, 2011 on the Sophia's Heart website. Finally, they heard back from BMG; the global entertainment company was just starting an artist division. Sophias Heart is now helping nine families, has established a music school, and helps victims of human trafficking. Singing songs like What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts to Michael Jackson's hit PYT (Pretty Young Thing) he advanced to the finals, placing third. But instead of letting my situation define me, I let it become a defining moment in my life, and something good has come out of it. After dinner, they went to the ballet, and finally Danny took her where they had their first date. Getting his start on American Idol, Danny Gokey's knows first- hand what it means to press on even if you believe God is not there. 'American Idol' Alum Danny Gokey Shares How the Show Was 'Healing' After the Death of His First Wife. He also found solace and healing in music. After competing on American Idol, The American Idols LIVE! Jen Juneau is a digital news writer for PEOPLE since 2016. Gokey, 38, captioned the cute image. Now, he has expanded to mend and heal the hearts of children . Sophia died at the age of 27. Sophia was a fan of American Idol and had suggested several times that Danny audition for the show. The couple said I do among family and friends in Florida on Sunday. The 38-year-old singer announced on his Instagram post with the help his two sons and a daughter where he shared the photo of the trio showing their father holding up a sonogram. Although this Gokey tune is the least familiar to Christians, the lyrics still pack a powerful, encouraging punch. Fourth Child on the Way for 'American Idol' Alum Danny Gokey and Wife Leyicet, Christina and Josh Hall Celebrate for a Second Time, Plus More Celeb Couples Who Got Hitched More Than Once, Shaunie O'Neal Is Married! ), 'American Idol' Alum Danny Gokey and Wife Leyicet Welcome Son Emanuel: 'We Are So Excited', See Every Single Stunning Photo from Paris Hilton and Carter Reum's Wedding. Music helped him get through and still helps him get through today. Danny mainly stuck to gospel and soul music during his time on American Idol. They have four children. Around this time, he married Sophia, whom he met in church, and lived with her for four years. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Baby Gokey #4 is coming this August!!! Click here to get those and more in the PEOPLE Parents newsletter. It reminds them that things may look like they are falling apart, but dont give up, because Gods doing more than you can see in that moment. CBN's ministry is made possible by the support of our CBN Partners. Login Sophia also loved American Idol and persuaded Danny to join the show as a contestant. He really wanted Sophias healing and it didnt go as planned. Danny serenaded Leyicet with a song her mother used to sing to her as a baby, You Are So Beautiful, and then he popped the big question. He and Sophia had spent four years praying and believing for her healing. 'Bachelor' Alum Bekah Martinez Spills All the Details on Her Heart-Shaped Engagement Ring, 13 Female Celebs Who Proposed to Their Partners, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari Set to Marry in Intimate Wedding on Thursday: Sources. Dont forget the things that He has done before Connect to the World Family Tree to find out. He has stated that his faith is the "key to who I am". One of the reasons Sophia's death was hard for Danny was because healing was something he was taught to believe. For more information, contact bobm@journalofgospelmusic.com or call (773) 576-2378. Danny says God aligned their steps and they married on January 29, 2012. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. It was tragic. Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Wedding bells will ring for Danny Gokey and girlfriend Leyicet Peralta on Jan. 29, they announced Tuesday, and now come exclusive details on the engagement ring and the proposal itself. So what would Sophia think of all that has happened to Danny since her passing? No information on his further studies. He was previously married to Sophia Martinez. After leaving RCA Nashville in November 2011, he moved his musical direction toward adult pop/contemporary Christian genre and made a record/publishing deal with BMG in May 2013. Gokey reassures us in his lyrics God is working on our behalf-we just have to hold on and believe: Have you been praying and you still have no answers? Geni requires JavaScript! It was really an incredible time, he said. He became one of the show's early frontrunners and ultimately finished third after Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. Inside Her Intimate Nashville Wedding, Avril Lavigne Gets Engaged to Mod Sun in Paris: 'The Day We Met I Knew You Were the One', How Billie Lourd's Wedding Dress and 'Something Blue' Honored Her Late Mom Carrie Fisher, Country Singer Adam Doleac Is Engaged to MacKinnon Morrissey: 'Just So Excited', The Kardashian Family Guide to the Perfect Proposal, Lawson Bates Is Engaged! Following that, he has published his second album Hope in Front of Me(2014) and then his first Christmas album aka the third studio album Christmas Is Here(2015). and more from FamousFix.com. A radiant light He was accepted as a recipient and ultimately placed third in 2009. If we dont have radio, we cant have a career., Initially, no label wanted to sign Danny. Danny was devastated. Now, he has expanded to mend and heal the hearts of children and families who have been touched by poverty, sickness, disease, broken homes and broken dreams. Distraught over his wife's passing, he didn't want to go through with his audition, Yet, Gokey knew his wife would want him to realize his dream of being a singer. We pray our gratitude grows more every day because there is so much for us to do now, they added. With this reminder, even the most depressed Christian will be reminded of God's plan to have a hope and a future for his life. Singles that are picks of the week are singled out for their quality. I hope that people get that side of me thats saying, listen, dont let that tragedy or that failure define you, but let it be a defining moment where you step up and become greater.. Says the rep: Danny surprised Leyicet and had a car pick her up. They were married on January 29, 2012. Danny Gokey: Wife, Dating, Family & Friends Danny is a married man to Cuban and Peruvian model Leyicet Peralta. Sophia was a fan of American Idol and encouraged Gokey to be a contestant, and Danny started a foundation in her name Sophia's Heart Foundation with some of her family members who are also musicians. He has a Twitter account @dannygokey with 139.9k followers. You shaping the soul in me Additionally, he signed the record label on 1 September 2009 and left the label in November 2011. The happy news was announced on the . Twenty-seven-year-old Sophia Martinez Gokey was a big fan of American Idol. Danny says God's grace reached out to him and got him through. Daniel came into the spotlight after he participated in the eighth season of American Idol and end up in third place and season won by Kris Allen. He is the fifth child of six children to his parents born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. He was married to his high school sweetheart for four years before she died unexpectedly in 2008 after a routine heart surgery for a congenital heart condition. Now you may be confused that he has married multiple spouses. Kris Allen won the year that Danny Gokey was on American Idol, which was also the last year that Paula Abdul was a judge. Beloved wife of Daniel. So, how much is Danny Gokey worth at the age of 42 years old? Danny says this EP with have a lot of different flavors of music soul, country, pop, and Christian. It rose to #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and #3 on the Country chart. Even when circumstances are less than ideal, Gokey reminds us we can rise above our situations when we put our faith and trust in God: So rise Four years after his first wife's passing, Gokey began dating Leyicet Peralta, they announced their engagement on December 25, 2011, on his foundation's website, Sophia's Heart, which raises money for people with congenital heart disease. In 2012, he released EP Love Again on his self-titled official website only in physical CD format. Her husband, Danny Gokey had been with his first wife, Sophia for 12 years. The facility in Nashville, opened in late 2011, has helped rescue over 60 families from life on the street. They had an intimate dinner by the ocean under a beautiful sunset in downtown Miami. The two had been together since 1997. Since Sophias death, Gokey created Sophias Heart Foundation in honor of his late wife. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. American Idol alum Danny Gokey, who tragically lost his wife three years ago, is engaged to marry his girlfriend, Leyicet Peralta. . Source: Billboard. Theres a lot of people who feel stuck. Their son Daniel Emanuel was born on January 20, 2013. However, before his audition, Danny would receive the shock of his life. He was previously married to Sophia Martinez. Thats my story. Leyicet shared another photograph of the trio for her own announcement on social media, which had Daniel and Victoria looking excited but Gabriel, not so much. The ceremony was a low-key affair with about 100 attendees. Want all the latest pregnancy and birth announcements, plus celebrity mom blogs? This launched his music career, which he aimed at the Christian pop segment. He has been married to Leyicet Gokey since January 29, 2012. 2 of the 3 are excited lol baby is due in August! His second full-length album, Hope in Front of Me, was released in June 2014. Getty Images . Happy news: Danny Gokey has announced his engagement to model Leyicet Peralta three years after his beloved wife passed away Gone but not forgotten: Sophia loved children though never got. Danny Gokey is a 42 year old American Country Musician. Danny Gokey is an American singer who came into the spotlight in 2009 when he had finished 3rd in the 8th season of the popular singing-based reality TV series . Danny Gokey and Sophia Martinez - Dating, Gossip, News, Photos list. It was Sophia who encouraged Danny to audition for American Idol. 'Bachelor' Alum Bekah Martinez Spills All the Details on Her Heart-Shaped Engagement Ring. Step into the light of grace Some of the ways they do this is by inspiring childrens minds through music and arts programs, after school programs, helping families succeed through interventions, and restoring hope to communities. Danny followed this advice and he has embarked on a journey that he never would have planned himself. Family (1) Spouse . Daniel Jay Gokey (born April 24, 1980) is an American singer and former church music director. Danny had a great time on Idol. He has also appeared in magazines and promoting brands too. 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