Kris Allen
He is quite involved in his church and has been a worship leader plus a missionary overseas. Awesome!! =) More secrets: Kris taught himself to play the guitar at 13 and can also play the piano, viola and ukulele. His wife Katy and him are childhood sweethearts. Aw shucks! ^_^

Matt Giraud
His nickname as a kid was “White Chocolate.” And why is that? Matt Giraud explains: “I was like one of the only lighter kids in the gospel choir in Detroit. They used to call me White Chocolate ’cause I learned to sing like that, and I love that type of music. You know, I sang that soul type of stuff, that church music.” He cites gospel singer Kirk Franklin among his music influences.

Danny Gokey
We all know that his wife Sofia dying after heart surgery just four weeks before his audition. But did you know he set up a foundation in her name called Sophia’s Heart? Its mission: “We exist to help mend and heal the hearts of children who have been touched by poverty, sickness disease, broken families and broken dreams.” Danny Gokey also blogged in the foundation’s website about how important it is “let go” after harmful life events:

“Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting about Sophia but does mean releasing the toxic emotions tied to the situation. However, I can tell you today that I am able to enjoy life more and I’m grabbing hold of new opportunities that would have otherwise been lost. I’m not buried in my bed under my sheets at home being angry at the world and God, but I’m in the stages of healing because my heart is not bound by resentment.”