Milwaukee native Danny Gokey wowed the "American Idol" judges Tuesday night with his performance of Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most." So, it wasn't a surprise that he made it to the final eight during the results show on Wednesday.

Gokey, who looked uncomfortable and a tad clumsy while running around during a Motown number the previous week, stood still in front of the microphone and cut loose with a strong effort.

"It was your best performance (so far)," judge Simon Cowell said, further illustrating the comparison by saying it was "like two snails competing with a racehorse."

Randy Jackson advised Gokey to swagger more on stage, Cowell said: "Ignore what he says!" Judge Kara DioGuardi responded by saying "You moved everyone in this room emotionally."

Gokey, 28, who looks to be a strong contestant for the title on the program, continues to generate a lot of media attention. Viewers are familiar with the story of his wife, Sophia, who died a month before his "Idol" audition. People magazine reported that he returned to Milwaukee last weekend to attend funeral services for his grandfather and a service at his church, Faith Builders International Ministries, 4901 S. Howell Ave.

USA Today did a story on Gokey's collection of eyeglasses, complete with comments from Gokey's optometrist, James Wagner of Southridge Optical in Greendale. Wagner, it seems, has been getting calls from patients and opticians from across the country who are looking for information on Gokey's frames.

Megan Joy Corkrey, a 22-year-old single mom from Utah, was voted out of the singing competition on Wednesday after a disappointing version of "Turn Your Lights Down Low." Corkrey was joined in the "bottom three" by Anoop Desai and 16-year-old rocker Allison Iraheta.