O'Donnell made honorary MBE

Daniel O'Donnell: Fans throughout Ireland and the UK

It is all happening for Irish clean-cut crooner Daniel O'Donnell.

He announced his engagement on Christmas Day and has now been included in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

The Donegal-born singer has been made an honorary MBE for his services to the music industry.

The 40-year-old began singing on the country music scene in Ireland as a teenager and seemed to be an overnight success.

O'Donnell is known for his clean-cut image

A fan base soon developed among women of all ages and he became renowned for his friendly approach to his fans.

He used to stand signing autographs for hours after concerts and everyone was always greeted with a smile.

O'Donnell even had a special day of the year when he would invite his fans for tea at his home in Kincasslagh, on the Donegal coast.

Chart success

He toured the Irish ex-patriot clubs in the UK and, before long, was playing to packed concert halls and arenas.

An appearance on Top of the Pops in the early 90s singing his hit I Wanna Dance With You took Daniel to a different level.

These days he is a regular on television in the UK and his records also sell well in the United States and Australia.

The charity has raised more than £750,000

The man with the clean-cut image has helped raise millions for his Romanian orphans charity in the past. But a year ago he shocked his fans when he promised to bare all in return for a £1m donation.

He said he would do it as long it was "tasteful".

Love life

There were always rumours about his love interests, with several of his girlfriends having being touted as a potential wife.

But on a radio programme in Donegal on Christmas Day, he announced his engagement to 41-year-old Irish businesswoman Majella McLennan.

Over the years O'Donnell has amassed a fortune in wealth. He now has a second home in Tenerife but has main home is still in Kincasslagh, where he also owns a hotel.

He often put his success down to his childhood, once remarking: "I have always felt very fortunate to have been born and brought up on the west coast of Donegal."

Some sections of the music business have laughed at O'Donnell's success singing "country 'n' Irish", but this honorary MBE will come as no surprise to his devoted fans who have bought millions of his records.