This contestant’s heart will go on – despite his on-air blunder.
Drew Goins, a Hawaii-based journalist competing in the “Jeopardy!” 2025 Champions Wildcard tournament, missed a question about Céline Dion after giving the artist a shout-out earlier in the show.
Jeopardy!
“John the producer suggested, long story, that I thank Céline Dion. So, thank you, Céline Dion,” he said on Friday’s episode, before bowing and looking into the camera.
“Does she know what she did?” host Ken Jennings asked about the 56-year-old singer.
“Oh, she does,” Goins teased back. “Deep down.”
But when it was time for the journalist to reveal his knowledge of Dion when presented with a $2,000 question from the category “’90s No. 1 Hits,” he missed the mark.
“Sharing its title with an earlier, more upbeat Huey Lewis hit, it was No. 1 for Celine Dion in 1994,” Jennings, 50, read.
Instead of buzzing in, Goins seemed panicked about the question referencing the icon. He and the rest of the contestants were unable to answer, with the buzzer eventually signaling that time had run out.
“Oh, she’s going to be mad, Drew,” Jennings joked before the contestant left the podium and pretended to leave the stage.
Jennings revealed the correct answer to the question, stating, “Like Huey Lewis, Céline Dion sang a song called ‘The Power of Love.’”
Returning to the podium, Goins explained why he wouldn’t be able to remember that song on the charts: “I was born in 1994!”
The Washington Post writer ended up being in second place in the final of the Champions Wildcard tournament, taking home a prize of $40,000. As runner-up, he is set to battle in the upcoming Tournament of Champions, and is playing in the quarterfinals on Feb. 3.
Although he couldn’t put his Dion skills to the test this time around, another pop star elevated Goins to redemption during the Second Chance tournament.
During a Sept. 2024 episode of “Jeopardy!” Goins failed to answer the $800 question, “The first of Taylor Swift’s record 4 AOTY Grammys was for this album in 2010.”
None of the contestants buzzed in with the correct answer of “Fearless.”
On the Jan. 6 “Jeopardy!” episode, Goins was asked the $200 question: “In 2014 Taylor Swift gave us this album named for a different year.”
Goins buzzed in to respond, “What is ‘1989’?”
“Redemption for Drew!” Jennings shouted as the audience cheered along. “And the crowd goes wild.”
On Monday, Goins took to Instagram to thank his brother Zach for being by his side through this wild ride.
“I legitimately would not have been able to accomplish anything like this on Jeopardy! (or in life!) were it not for you. you flew across the country for my every taping, using up money and PTO that could have gone to vacation. vacation!! you whipped up lots of practice boards and even more hype for me,” Goins commented on Zach’s post.
Added Goins: “So excited for tons more brother time, in whatever form, but especially when I get to pay back this favor sooner rather than later — because i know you won’t be missing from the Alex Trebek Stage for long.”
