He may have lost out to Kris Allen and Adam Lambert on American Idol last season, but Danny Gokey has plenty to smile about. The former truck driver's first record, My Best Days, had the strongest album debut for a new male country artist in 18 years. And his single, "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me," is a top 10 country hit.

"I feel very lucky," Gokey, 29, says of "the progression I've made in the last year and a half." The Milwaukee native has a famously tragic back story, including the 2008 loss of his young wife, Sophia, after a routine heart surgery. As a result, in addition to pouring himself into his music, Gokey is also hard at work expanding Sophia's Heart Foundation, a nonprofit organization honoring his late wife and aimed at connecting school children with music and art.

"I've very busy and enjoying life again," he says. "I'm very happy."

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