Church music director Danny Gokey, young mother Alexis Grace and roughneck worker Michael Sarver are the first 3 finalists of American Idol season 8.

Danny Gokey outsang the rest of the contestants Tuesday night (Wednesday in RP) by his soulful rendition of the Mariah Carey Olympics anthem “Hero.” If you missed the performance, you should can watch it here.

Many believed Tatiana del Toro and Anoop Desai will also advance in the finals but Alexis Grace who sang Never Loved A Man and Michael Sarver who performed I Don’t Wanna Be took the slots.

The second group competing next week are:

Adam Lambert
Allison Iraheta
Jasmine Murray
Jeanine Vailes
Jesse Langseth
Kai Kalama
Kris Allen
Matt Breitzke
Matt Giraud
Megan Corkrey
Mishavonna Henson
Nick Mitchell