It was either the 29-year-old Gokey or 17-year-old Allison Iraheta who were to be sent home after the viewer vote. In the end, it was the talented young rocker who got the ax, despite a spirited performance of Janis Joplin's "Cry Baby."
Joining Gokey in the last phase of the competition for a recording contract are Kris Allen, 23, of Conway, Ark., and Adam Lambert, 26, of Los Angeles.
Finalists were announced in random order, so there's no way of knowing who had the most votes after Tuesday's "Rock Night" performances.
Host Ryan Seacrest reported that more than 64 million votes were recorded after Tuesday's show, the biggest total ever for a non-finale week.
There was some doubt about Gokey's fate after his Tuesday night performance of Aerosmith's "Dream On." His final note had drawn criticism from the judges, something he had eluded at first.
"When we're up here, the sound drowns everything out," Gokey said on Wednesday's show, adding that he thought the note was right on the money.
"But I listened to it back, and I have to say, I laughed the whole night. I think it's my funniest moment on 'American Idol,' that note. I definitely made a name for myself last night with that horror scream. I think it'll be in movies soon."
The most outspoken "Idol" judge, Simon Cowell, said Tuesday that the screech that ended Gokey's song "was like watching a horror movie."
Cowell has been predicting for weeks that Gokey and Lambert would be the last two "Idol" finalists standing.
