Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver Make it To American Idol Season 8 "Top 12"

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 through his soulful rendition of the Mariah Carey Olympics anthem "Hero" (watch it here). While, Alexis Grace sang "Never Loved a Man" by Aretha Franklin and Michael Sarver performed Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Wanna Be".

The three will next compete on March 10 along with the 9 other finalists, which will be known on the next episodes.

The other 9 eliminated contestants, however, will still have a chance to become one of the Top 12 through the wildcard competition happening on March 5. They are:

Ricky Braddy
Anne Marie Boskovich
Casey Carlson
Anoop Desai
Tatiana del Toro
Stephen Fowler
Brent Keith
Jacklyn “Jackie” Tohn
Stevie Wright

On February 25 and March 3, two more groups composed of 12 contestants each will compete to get a slot in the Top 12:

Group 2 (on February 25)
Kris Allen
Matt Breitzke
Matt Giraud
Kai Kalama
Adam Lambert
Nick Mitchell
Megan Corkrey
Mishavonna Henson
Allison Iraheta
Jesse Langseth
Jasmine Murray
Jeanine Vailes

Group 3 (on March 3)
Ju'Not Joyner
Scott MacIntyre
Nathaniel Marshall
Jorge Nuñez
Von Smith
Alex Wagner-Trugman
Arianna Afsar
Felicia Barton
Kendall Beard
Kristen McNamara
Lil Rounds
Taylor Vaifanua