Clay Aiken

Artist Image: Clay Aiken
Attribution
Image Credit: Gage Skidmore (Clay Aiken Speaking at Politicon 2016.jpg), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken (born November 30, 1978) is an American singer–songwriter, television personality, author and activist who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released in October 2003. He released four more albums on the RCA label: Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), and the Christmas EP, All is Well (2006). His fourth studio album (the first album of original material since 2003's Measure of a Man), On My Way Here was released on May 6, 2008. After the release of On My Way Here, Aiken left RCA and later signed with Decca Records. His first album with Decca, Tried and True, was released June 1, 2010 and his second Steadfast, was released March 26, 2012. In the years following his American Idol appearance, Aiken has launched ten tours, authored a New York Times best-selling book Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life with Allison Glock, and was the executive producer for a 2004 televised Christmas special, A Clay Aiken Christmas and his televised live concert special in 2010 on PBS Tried & True Live!. He has been a frequent talk show guest, particularly on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He appeared as a guest star on Scrubs, Drop Dead Diva, 30 Rock and participated in comedy skits on numerous other shows. He also competed in the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice and placed second in the finals to Arsenio Hall.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1978
Number of Albums 13
Record Label
Website clayaiken.com
Wikipedia Clay Aiken on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Pop Rock

Trivia

What reality show did Aiken audition for?

American Idol

...Before he could further his education, however, Aiken auditioned for American Idol and ended up wooing a weekly audience of 21 million television view...
How many contestants auditioned for the competition in total?

7,000

...itioned for the Idol competition to please an encouraging friend. Out of 7,000 hopefuls, the Charlotte, North Carolina native won the hearts of the ju...
What was the name of the reality TV series that aiken originally wanted to appear on?

The American Race

...Originally, Aiken had planned to try out for the reality TV series The American Race , but went ahead and auditioned for the Idol competition to please...
What year was Aiken born?

1978

...udges as well as millions of fans across the globe. Born on November 30, 1978 , Aiken began singing at an early age, and was confident enough to perfor...
What song did he perform at a local high school dance by age five?

Islands in the Stream

...onfident enough to perform the Dolly Parton Kenny Rogers classic Islands in the Stream at a local highschool dance by age five. Two year later, he was...
What choir did aiken become a regular member of?

Raleigh Boys Choir

...ed into his teenage years, when he became a regular member of the Raleigh Boys Choir and enjoyed roles in The Music Man, Oklahoma!, various stage play...
What did he choose to study instead of music?

special education

... go to college, music wasn't Aiken's strongest calling. He studied special education instead, and set his sights on attending Virginia's College of Wi...
Where was he hoping to attend?

College of William & Mary

... education instead, and set his sights on attending Virginia's College of William & Mary for a master's degree in administration. Before he could furt...
How many viewers watched American Idol in 2003?

21 million

...auditioned for American Idol and ended up wooing a weekly audience of 21 million television viewers in early 2003. That same month, Aiken's debut sing...
What was the first single released by aiken?

This Is the Night

...sion viewers in early 2003. That same month, Aiken's debut single, This Is the Night , made history by shooting to number one on Billboard's Hot 100 ch...
In what month did his debut single, This Is the Night, reach number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart?

2003

...ed up wooing a weekly audience of 21 million television viewers in early 2003 . That same month, Aiken's debut single, This Is the Night, made history ...
When did he release his fulllength studio debut, The Measure of a Man?

October 2003

...e history by shooting to number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. In October 2003 , Aiken returned to the spotlight and issued his fulllength studio de...
When was he released his debut album, Measure of a Man?

25 years old

...time friend persuaded him to audition for American Idol. When he was 25 years old he released his debut album, Measure of a Man. (singles from his deb...
How many CDs did he record before American Idol?

two

...old over 600,000 copies in the USA in its first week of release. Recorded two CDs entitled Redefined and Look What Love Has Done prior to American Ido...
Named the foundation for what boy with autism?

Mike Bubel

...ilities in activities with typical children. Named the foundation for Mike Bubel , a boy with autism that he worked with in North Carolina. Mike's moth...
Who persuaded Mike to audition for American Idol?

Mike's mother Diane

...e Bubel, a boy with autism that he worked with in North Carolina. Mike's mother Diane persuaded him to audition for American Idol. His freshman album,...
What was Mike's freshman album called?

Measure of a Man

...erican Idol. When he was 25 years old he released his debut album, Measure of a Man . (singles from his debut album include: Invisible, This Is The Nig...
When did Mike plan to release a Christmas album?

2004

...Measure of a Man, shipped double platinum. Plans to release one album in 2004 , a Christmas album His song, The Way, was cowritten by Enrique Iglesias....
How old was Clay when his father deserted the family?

one year old

...ention and determination to be a famous singer. When Clay was barely one year old , his violent and alcoholic father, Vernon Grissom deserted the famil...
What was Clay supported to do by the age of 5?

perform at a local high school dance

...h deep affection. By the age of 5, Clay was supported to perform at a local high school dance . Through this man, he found out what the word family mea...
When did Parker die?

July 2002

...onsidered and respected him as his real father until Parker's death in July 2002 . Meanwhile, Clay passed his childhood happily, along with his stepsis...
What was the name of Clay's step sister?

Amy

... Meanwhile, Clay passed his childhood happily, along with his stepsister, Amy , stepbrother, Jeff, and halfbrother, Brett. Growing up as a teenager, he...
What was Clay's halfbrother's name?

Brett

...ily, along with his stepsister, Amy, stepbrother, Jeff, and halfbrother, Brett . Growing up as a teenager, he joined Raleigh Boys Choir while also bein...
What university did he earn his bachelor's degree from?

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

...ned his bachelors degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte . Measure of a Man sold over 613,000 copies in the Uni...
What nonfiction book was released in the same week as Merry Christmas?

Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life

...e was released, Aiken published a nonfiction book, Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life , which quickly climbed to the number two spot on t...
What was the name of Aiken's son in 2008?

Parker Foster Aiken

...ing the education of children in unstable nations around the world. In 2008, Aiken had a son, Parker Foster Aiken , with Jaymes Foster, a close friend....
When did he plan to become a school principal?

when he hit the age of 50

...ter's degree in administration, then become a school principal when he hit the age of 50 . He truly loved teaching children with developmental disabili...
Who was Bubel's mother?

Diane

...d worked oneonone with a boy who had autism, Mike Bubel. Bubel's mother, Diane , had seen the singingcontest television show American Idol, and knew th...
How many people watched the show You Don't Look Like A Pop Star?

millions

...forever. You Don't Look Like a Pop Star Aiken came to the attention of millions of TV viewers during the second season of the show in 2003, when he st...
Who was the judge of the second season of American Idol?

Simon Cowell

...red, bigeared looks and his large, resonant voice. The show's judge, Simon Cowell , remarked, You don't look like a pop star. Not only did he not look ...
What religion was Aiken?

Christian

...only did he not look like a pop star, he didn't act like one. Aiken, a Christian , spoke openly about his beliefs, didn't drink, smoke, or swear, did n...
In what year did Aiken win the Democratic primary?

2014

...al office, as he previously ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 , winning the Democratic primary before losing in the general election. B...
In what city did aiken attend Leesville Road High School?

Raleigh

...rth Carolinians probably recognize Aikens name for different reasons. A Raleigh native, Aiken attended Leesville Road High School before attending the...
What is the name of the organization that Aiken cofounded?

National Inclusion Project

...ding for children with disabilities through his work with the National Inclusion Project , which he cofounded. Hes also made other TV appearances since...
What television show did he appear on after winning American Idol?

The Celebrity Apprentice

...d. Hes also made other TV appearances since Idol, including on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012. Clay Aiken on American Idol Aiken first became a reco...
Who hosted the final season of American idol in 2003?

Ryan Seacrest

...ican Idol in 2003. The finale was met with controversy, as Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced during the finale episode three different numbers for the...
How many different numbers did Ryan Seacrest announce for the total number of votes between Studdard and Aiken?

three

...troversy, as Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced during the finale episode three different numbers for the total number of votes separating Studdard and...
How many more albums did he release on the RCA label?

four

..., and his debut album, Measure of a Man, went multiplatinum. He released four more albums on the RCA label, Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousa...
When was the Christmas EP All is Well released?

2006

... (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), the Christmas EP All is Well ( 2006 ), and On My Way Here (2008). Aiken has also had eleven tours in support ...
How many tours has he had in support of his albums?

eleven

...as EP All is Well (2006), and On My Way Here (2008). Aiken has also had eleven tours in support of his albums. In all, he has sold over 5 million albu...
What book did Ayken cowrote in 2004?

Learning to Sing

...American Idol alumnus. Aiken cowrote a bestselling memoir in 2004, Learning to Sing . During much of 2008 he appeared on Broadway in the musical comedy...
In what musical comedy did he appear on Broadway in 2008?

Spamalot

...ing. During much of 2008 he appeared on Broadway in the musical comedy Spamalot , in the role of Sir Robin. He has also had numerous cameo and guest ap...
What role was he in the musical comedy Spamalot?

Sir Robin

...he appeared on Broadway in the musical comedy Spamalot, in the role of Sir Robin . He has also had numerous cameo and guest appearances on TV shows. He...