Quotes from Danny Gokey

I drove an 18-wheeler semi-truck, a big rig. I liked it actually.

As everyone in the world can see, I am not a rocker.

When you write about hope, don't make it sappy; make it cool, make it adaptable.

My wife was an amazing, amazing person. Sophia's Heart is an organization that I founded in honor of my wife when she passed away. When she passed away it was a complete shock, and it was disappointment, anger. I felt all those emotions.

I've kind of walked into a realm where it's paid off for all the hard work that I've put into it, and I get to bless my family. And that's the one thing I love doing. I love giving.

Your future is only big enough for you to walk through, not for you and your past to walk through.

It's a dream when some people think that once you give your life to God, all of a sudden things are perfect. That's not the case. We live in a world that's broken, where there's disease, where people are selfish. The foundation of your faith helps you know how to put that in proper perspective.

In our culture, I feel like everyone just wants the good life, the dream life, but I'm learning to embrace suffering because with suffering there's so much good that comes out of it.

On 'American Idol,' I felt like one of my challenges was picking songs because I've definitely been exposed to a lot of music. So when I went to pick songs, it was difficult for me to choose, but I'd always go to country because country music is so memorable.

I feel like the Church should have the most amazing entertainment and the best music, because we know the author and the source of music and entertainment, which is our Father.

Music changes, but there's a timeless touch that we put to it, which I think is really important.

The moment we change our thinking and start connecting with God, we start connecting with His plans, which always exceed our small plans.

I want people to feel the hope that comes through Christmastime.

Since I was a kid, I always felt like God had placed something inside my heart. And I always believed that God was going to do something great in my life. But I didn't know the road that I was going to take to get here. And especially losing my wife.

The thing is, I'm a competitor by nature. I like to compete.

I really believed music was going to be a big part of my future, and that's why I took a truck driving job, so I could maintain my singing job at night. I put about 30 hours a week just for singing, going between two churches. And in order to afford that, I had to take a full time job so I could do my passion.

When I was 12 years old, my dad got into country music. My first CD was Wynonna Judd, and I loved it.

When I sing songs, I love to put emotion into it. I want people to feel what I feel and just disappear for a moment.

I tell people that life is like a book. Sometimes you've just got to turn the chapter. Even if you don't understand it, turn the chapter and move away from it. You don't know all the good things that are ahead of you yet.

I tried out for American Idol, I got a record deal, and now it's like my best days are ahead of me.

Christmastime is about hope with what God did for us and with the expression of His love through the gift He gave us at Christmastime, which was Jesus... the one who heals us, who saves us, who delivers us, who is there in our darkest moments.

I believe in helping people who are down.

I don't live in regret land. I live in the now and in the future, and in the dreams that I have.

I've always loved glasses. Always have. I've worn glasses since I was in the fifth grade.