MILWAUKEE, WI (March 20, 2023) - This past Sunday night, three-time GRAMMY® nominee and American Idol alum Danny Gokey was surprised with a plaque presentation celebrating the RIAA Gold Certification of his debut CCM single “Hope In Front Of Me.” The surprise presentation took place in the middle of a sold-out stop on the “Jesus People” tour in Gokey’s hometown of Milwaukee, with the commemorative plaque presented by Christian radio veteran Chris Hauser along with Gokey’s longtime manager, Penny Railey. This marks the third gold certification of Gokey’s career, following the gold certification of his singles “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” and “Haven’t Seen It Yet.”
 
“Wow, what an amazing surprise to find out my single went gold in front of a hometown audience of family and friends!” said Gokey. “It’s always an honor to celebrate a milestone like this, especially since this was my very first CCM radio release! And what an honor to have my first radio promoter, Chris Hauser there to help with the surprise! I’m truly grateful to all the people who were early supporters of what has now become a longstanding career!”
 
"Hope in Front of Me" was co-written by Danny Gokey, Bernie Herms and Brett James and produced by Bernie Herms (Josh Groban, Casting Crowns and Natalie Grant). It was released to Christian radio on January 24, 2014. Written as a message of hope in dark times, "Hope in Front of Me" peaked at number 1 and spent 4 weeks on top of the Billboard Christian Audience chart.
 
“Danny has a big voice and a big heart that shines through in all that he does both on and off stage, so it was especially gratifying to surprise him with this achievement,” said Railey, Gokey’s longtime manager. “His love for God and people, in addition to his soulful talent have always made him a joy to work with. It’s truly an honor to have been a part of his journey this far!”
 
The sold-out Milwaukee concert was the 12th sell-out of Gokey’s “Jesus People” spring tour. Prior to that evening’s show, Gokey spent time earlier in the day serving alongside his nonprofit Better Than I Found It, hosting a bus stop giveback event where they distributed groceries and food staples along with $8,000 in grocery gift cards to local residents in need. 
 
To learn more about Danny Gokey’s music as well as his nonprofit, Better Than I Found It, visit DannyGokey.com. 
 
 

About Danny Gokey:
Three-time Grammy Nominee, three-time KLOVE Male Vocalist of the Year, Dove Award winner, and eight-time Dove Award Nominee, Milwaukee native Danny Gokey became a favorite of millions of fans as a Top 3 finalist on Season Eight of American Idol. Following Idol, Gokey dropped his first album, My Best Days and since that time has celebrated a series of No. 1s including his follow up releases Hope In Front of Me, Rise, Haven’t Seen It Yet, holiday albums, Christmas Is Here and The Greatest Gift and, most recently, Jesus People, released in August 2021, which explores a broad spectrum of musical styles. Spawning singles like “Hope In Front of Me”, “Rise,” “The Comeback,” “Love God Love People,” and RIAA Gold-certified “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” and “Haven’t Seen It Yet,” Danny Gokey has cemented his place on the radio charts with multi-week, multi-chart-topping runs in the United States, Canada, and now Latin markets with the releases of Spanish singles and collaborations. The desire to make a broader impact with his message of hope led to the founding of nonprofit organization Better Than I Found It, which is starting to do 'Bus Stops' during his current 'Jesus People' Tour. He and his wife Leyiet also launched Livin’ la Vida Gokey, a podcast featuring conversations about faith and family. They currently live outside Nashville, TN with their four beautiful children, Daniel, Victoria, Gabriel, and Emanuel. Find out more at DannyGokey.com.

Danny Gokey and the sold out crowd at the surprise presentation in Milwaukee

###

 

[2026]
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

[2025]
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

[2001 - Present]
Visit our complete MUSIC NEWS ARCHIVE