A truck driver cum-church musician turned widowed famed country singer turned community philanthropist — in a nutshell, that's Milwaukee-native Danny Gokey's life story.

He rose to international notoriety with during season eight of American Idol, maneuvering through countless auditions and hundreds of thousands of hopefuls to earn a third spot behind Kris Allen and Adam Lambert.

Gokey's story touched everyone. Just four weeks before the show, he lost his wife and high school sweetheart Sophia during what should have been a routine surgery due to a congenital heart condition. Determined to fulfill their dreams, Gokey found the strength to express his pain through song, and at the suggestion of American Idol celebrity coach and industry superstar Randy Travis, he embarked on a successful country music career.

At Houston Galleria's 23rd Annual Tree Lighting and "Ice Spectacular" presented by Cadillac on Saturday, Gokey will be the headlining act.

Gokey now lives in Nashville. Prior to his Houston visit, CultureMap spoke to the 31-year old singer by phone and learned about his hopes and aspirations.

CultureMap: American Idol. Intense, right? What was the most important lesson you learned while navigating show after show?

Danny Gokey: The best lesson I learned while being on the show is that it solidified my vision. I know this sounds like a cliché, but I discovered that it is possible to follow your dreams, and sometimes, they just manifest themselves in just a gigantic way.

All the years of hard work paid off. I was lucky to be in a platform where I had the opportunity to share my talents with the world.

CM: I am assuming you are no longer wearing your wedding band, which you wore while on the show. When did it come off?

DG: I no longer wear it, though I never had a specific moment when I took it off. While I was married to Sophia, I often forgot to wear it.

The moving on process, from when she passed to now, has been very slow, though I vowed never to forget. I honor her memory through my nonprofit, Sophia's Heart. Time creates greater distance and today, I am OK with life again. Those feelings you deal with are very strong. In a way, you don't move on, you move forward, and that makes me very sad. Perhaps we will be united again in heaven.

CM: Are you dating now?

DG: Yes, I am. And I am very happy. Though I prefer to keep her identity protected, she was in the entertainment industry in the past.

CM: Your first album, My Best Days, is a thoughtful mixture of fun songs, soulful tunes, country melodies and lyrics that rip your heart out. Will we expect the same from your upcoming studio album?

DG: For me, the focus of this second album is to have more freedom with what I do. I want to show more creativity than the first, which I love. But I want people to get to know the real me, see and hear my growth.

CM: The lyrics to your new single, "Second Hand Heart," are universal. We can all relate to being tattered, being hurt and showing our scars. Is that a direction you are going in?

DG: I want people to get to know me, to explore deep soulful music and to also be entertained. Those are three things I try to embed in all my concerts and shows.

I am looking to develop more collaborations with other artists also.

CM: Any artists in particular?

DG: Yes. I'd love to perform with Michael McDonald, Marc Anthony, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw. I would love to partner with 10 or so different artists, like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie did with "We Are the World," to fundraise for a cause like alcohol and drug rehabilitation, helping to shelter and clothe the homeless.

CM: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment to date?

DG: I consider American Idol to be one of my biggest accomplishments. Having found my way through hundreds of thousands of contestants, it is the largest show of its kind in the world airing in over 60 countries. People know my name here, in China, all over, and that's very humbling.

Sophia's Heart, the nonprofit which I set up after Sophia's passing, occupies a lot of my time. I feel its also significant as it is only three years old. We are in two cities, Milwaukee and Nashville, and in a short period of time, we are helping homeless people, granting scholarships and are offering arts programs.

Most nonprofits take five to 10 years to accomplish this.

CM: What's the craziest gig you've done, or the craziest thing that has happened during a concert?

DG: I did a show for Chuck Norris, that was pretty wild. But one time, somewhere in rural Tennessee, people were really excited, there was a lot of noise. One of my fans peed in her pants and when she came to say hello, I had no idea what to say.

CM: During American Idol you were known for your funky glasses. Any plans of doing anything with that?

DG: As a matter of fact, yes. I am getting ready to launch a new eyewear line in the spring of 2012. It's a milestone for me as I always wanted my own designer line. I'll be helping design and putting input my thoughts into the look. It's my vision.

I want a portion of the sales to feed my nonprofit work, but not quite sure yet how the mechanics will work out. Be on the lookout for Match Eyewear.

CM: How does your religious and spiritual side manifest itself in your music?

DG: Through the lyrics. You can tell a lot about an artist through the words they sing, and each is unique in their own way. I try to make my message open so that it reaches everyone.

Gokey wil sing during the 23rd annual Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular, 6 p.m. Saturday at the Galleria.