Clay Aiken facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clay Aiken
Aiken at Politicon in 2016
Born	Clayton Holmes Grissom (1978-11-30) November 30, 1978 (age 46) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Education	University of North Carolina at Charlotte (BA)
Occupation	Singer-songwriter politician actor author
Years active	2003–present
Political party	Democratic
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Pop soft rock R&B
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	RCA Decca
Signature

Clayton Holmes Aiken (born November 30, 1978) is an American singer, TV personality, actor, and activist. He became famous after finishing second on the second season of American Idol in 2003. His first album, Measure of a Man, sold millions of copies. He has released several more albums and has toured many times. Overall, he has sold over 5 million albums, making him one of the top-selling American Idol contestants.

Clay Aiken also wrote a popular book in 2004 called Learning to Sing. He appeared on Broadway in the musical Spamalot and competed on The Celebrity Apprentice. He also co-founded the National Inclusion Project, a group that helps children with disabilities. From 2004 to 2013, he was an ambassador for UNICEF, traveling to help children around the world. In 2014 and 2022, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

Early Life and Education

Clay Aiken was born Clayton Holmes Grissom on November 30, 1978, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He grew up singing in choirs and local theater shows. Before American Idol, he made a few demo albums. When he was 19, he changed his last name to Aiken, his mother's maiden name.

Aiken attended Leesville Road High School and later the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He started working at the YMCA in 1995, helping young people. He became interested in special education after working as a substitute teacher for students with autism. This experience inspired him to become a special education teacher. While in college, he worked as an assistant for a boy with autism. The boy's mother, Diane Bubel, encouraged him to try out for American Idol. Even though American Idol took up a lot of his time, Aiken finished his college degree in special education in December 2003.

Becoming an American Idol Star

Clay Aiken originally planned to try out for The Amazing Race, but a friend convinced him to audition for American Idol instead. When he first auditioned, the judges were surprised by his singing talent after seeing his "nerdy" look. His performance of "Always and Forever" by Heatwave helped him move forward.

He was initially cut from the show but was invited back for a "Wild Card" round. His performance of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" earned him a spot in the final 12. Aiken was known for his powerful ballads, like "Solitaire" by Neil Sedaka, but his upbeat songs were also popular. He never landed in the bottom three during the competition. He also changed his appearance, trading his glasses for contact lenses and updating his hairstyle.

On May 21, 2003, Clay Aiken finished second in the competition, with Ruben Studdard winning by a small number of votes. Some people thought the voting system had problems because so many people tried to call in. Later, an executive producer of American Idol said that Aiken had actually led the fan voting every week until the final night.

Aiken appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in July 2003. He also made a surprise appearance on the fifth season finale of American Idol, looking very different with a new hairstyle. He is one of the top earners from American Idol, making an estimated $1.5 million in 2010.

American Idol Season 2 Performances

• Due to Corey Clark's disqualification, the Top 9 performances became Top 8 when no one was eliminated.

Music Career

Clay Aiken has released several successful albums since his time on American Idol.

First Albums: Measure of a Man and Merry Christmas With Love

On October 14, 2003, Aiken released his first solo album, Measure of a Man. It quickly became number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 613,000 copies in its first week. This was the highest-selling debut for a solo artist in 10 years. The album was certified Double Platinum, meaning it sold over 2 million copies. It included hit songs like "Invisible" and "This Is the Night". Aiken won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards and a Billboard award for his single "This Is The Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water".

On November 16, 2004, he released a holiday album called Merry Christmas with Love. This album broke records for being the fastest-selling holiday album since 1991. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and sold over 1 million copies in just six weeks, becoming the best-selling holiday album of 2004.

More Music: A Thousand Different Ways and On My Way Here

Aiken's second studio album, A Thousand Different Ways, came out on September 19, 2006. It featured ten cover songs and four new ones. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard chart. This made Aiken one of only four artists to have their first three albums debut in the Top 5 and sell over 200,000 copies in the first week.

His second Christmas album, All Is Well, was released in November 2006. In May 2008, Aiken released On My Way Here, an album inspired by a song written by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder. After this album, Aiken and his record label, RCA, decided to go their separate ways.

In March 2009, a collection of his previous songs, The Very Best of Clay Aiken, was released.

Recent Albums: Tried and True and Steadfast

In August 2009, Aiken signed with Decca Records. His album Tried and True was released on June 1, 2010. It featured songs popular in the 1950s and 1960s, including "Mack the Knife" and "Unchained Melody", which he had sung on American Idol. A live DVD called Tried & True Live! was also released.

On December 20, 2011, Aiken released a new song called "Bring Back My Love." On March 27, 2012, he released Steadfast, an album with previous recordings and songs he had only performed in concerts.

TV Appearances

Clay Aiken has appeared on many television shows. In 2003, he sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2003 World Series. He also appeared in holiday TV specials, including Disney's Christmas Day Parade.

In December 2004, Aiken starred in and produced his own TV special, A Clay Aiken Christmas, with guests like Barry Manilow. He also sang on the popular show Scrubs and made guest appearances on Ed and Days of Our Lives.

Aiken was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 2004 and has been a frequent guest on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He also co-hosted The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet and filled in for Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly. In 2009, he was a guest judge on America's Next Top Model.

In August 2010, Aiken was a guest voice on the cartoon Phineas and Ferb, singing a duet with Chaka Khan. In 2012, he was the runner-up on the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice, raising money for his charity. He also appeared in an episode of The Office and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2024, he and Ruben Studdard competed together on The Masked Singer as "Beets".

Broadway and Theater

On January 18, 2008, Clay Aiken made his Broadway debut in Monty Python's Spamalot. He played the role of Sir Robin for four months. He returned to the show from September 2008 to January 2009. In December 2018, Aiken and Ruben Studdard starred in a Christmas show together on Broadway.

Aiken has also performed in other theater productions. In May 2013, he starred in The Drowsy Chaperone in North Carolina. That summer, he played Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Maine. In June 2019, he appeared as Teen Angel in Grease in Pittsburgh.

Music Tours

Clay Aiken has had many tours to support his music.

In 2004, Aiken and Kelly Clarkson co-headlined the Independent Tour. After that, he went on a solo tour across the United States. Disney sponsored this tour, promoting their Aladdin DVD.

In November 2004, Aiken started his first Christmas tour, "The Joyful Noise Tour," which featured a 30-piece orchestra and local choirs. In the summer of 2005, he toured with the "Jukebox Tour," performing songs from different decades. He also had a second Christmas tour in late 2005, which included a story about finding the Christmas spirit.

In December 2006, Aiken began his third Christmas tour, performing in cities across the Midwest and East Coast. His tour in support of A Thousand Different Ways ran from July to August 2007. His fourth annual Christmas tour, "Christmas in the Heartland," took place in late 2007. All his Christmas tours have ended with his song, "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day".

In 2010, Aiken and Ruben Studdard went on their "Timeless" tour, performing medleys of songs from the 1960s to the 1990s. Aiken also toured in 2011 to support his album Tried and True. His fifth Christmas tour, "Joyful Noise 2012," started in November 2012.

Aiken at a 2006 Christmas tour appearance in Waukegan, Illinois

Aiken at a 2006 Christmas tour appearance in Merrillville, Indiana

Activism and Charity Work

Clay Aiken has been involved in many charity and advocacy efforts. He started working at the YMCA in 1995 and taught children with autism at Brentwood Elementary School.

He has participated in many benefit concerts and events, including the Rosalynn Carter Benefit and the America's Promise Benefit. He was a spokesperson for the Toys For Tots toy drive and an ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Aiken also worked with the Make A Wish Foundation to help a young boy's dream come true.

In September 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Aiken to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities for a two-year term. While performing in Spamalot, Aiken helped raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He also supports GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

National Inclusion Project

Aiken's interest in helping children with autism led him to co-found the National Inclusion Project (originally called the Bubel/Aiken Foundation) with Diane Bubel. This organization helps include children with disabilities in activities with their non-disabled friends. The foundation runs summer camps and gives awards to support volunteer efforts by children with disabilities. In 2004, the foundation received a grant from the U.S. government to create a model for inclusion in community service projects for schools. State Farm also gave $1.5 million to help develop a curriculum focused on teaching social skills to children of all abilities. In 2009, the organization was renamed the "National Inclusion Project."

UNICEF Ambassador

In November 2004, Clay Aiken became a U.S. Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador. His goal was to help ensure that children everywhere could get a basic education. After the tsunami in 2004, he helped raise money for relief efforts.

UNICEF sent Aiken on missions to different parts of the world. In March 2005, he visited the tsunami-affected Banda Aceh area to highlight the need for education. In May 2005, he went to northern Uganda to see the challenges faced by children who had to flee their homes at night. In April 2007, he visited Kabul and Bamyan in Afghanistan, where he spent time with children in classrooms and helped give polio vaccinations. He also spent Christmas 2007 in Mexico, helping children affected by floods. In 2008, UNICEF sent him to Somalia and Kenya.

Political Involvement

Clay Aiken has also been involved in politics.

Running for Congress

Clay Aiken speaking at Politicon in June 2016.

In the 2014 elections, Aiken ran as the Democratic Party candidate for North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. He won the Democratic primary election on May 6, 2014. In the general election on November 4, 2014, Aiken lost to the Republican candidate, Renee Ellmers. This district is generally considered a strong Republican area. Aiken's campaign was featured in a 2015 documentary miniseries called The Runner-up.

In January 2022, Aiken announced he would run for the Democratic nomination in North Carolina's 4th congressional district. He stated he wanted to speak up for people in his community. However, he finished third in the primary election.

Fan Base

Clay Aiken has a very dedicated fan base. TV Guide readers voted him the "Favorite Reality Star of 2003" and "the most-loved reality star of all time" in 2005. In February 2006, People magazine readers voted him their "Favorite American Idol".

His fans are often called "Claymates." Aiken even trademarked the term. There are also fun names for different groups of fans, like "Claysians" (Asian fans) and "Claynadians" (Canadian fans). When some fans got tattoos of his autograph, Aiken defended his fans, calling them "enthusiastic" rather than "crazy." His fans have organized parties to celebrate his album releases, showing their strong support.

Personal Life

On August 8, 2008, Clay Aiken announced the birth of his son, Parker Foster Aiken, in North Carolina. The child's mother is Jaymes Foster, a friend and sister of a record producer who worked on Aiken's albums. Aiken shared that his son was "healthy, happy, and as loud as his daddy."

Beliefs and Values

Clay Aiken was raised in a Baptist family and was involved in his church from a young age. In his book, Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, he talks about the important people in his life and the role of faith. He describes himself as a proud Southern Baptist. He believes in inclusion and serving others, and he makes it clear that he respects everyone's beliefs.

When asked about his idols, he mentioned Jesus Christ, Mr. Rogers, and Jimmy Carter. While he doesn't call himself a Christian music artist, he has been featured in Christian music magazines and has released several Christmas albums and performed in Christmas specials.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Measure of a Man (2003)
• Merry Christmas with Love (2004)
• A Thousand Different Ways (2006)
• On My Way Here (2008)
• Tried and True (2010)
• Steadfast (2012)
• Christmas Bells Are Ringing (2024)

EPs

• All Is Well (2006)

Compilations

• The Very Best of Clay Aiken (2009)
• A Thousand Different Ways/Measure of a Man (2010)

DVDs

• A Clay Aiken Christmas (2004)
• Tried and True Live (2010)

Filmography

• Clay Aiken: Invisible (2003)
• Ed (2003)
• Scrubs (2005)
• All My Children (2005)
• 30 Rock (2009)
• Phineas and Ferb (2010)
• Hoarders: Untold Stories Tori (2011)
• Drop Dead Diva (2011)
• The Office (2013)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2013)
• The Runner-up (2015)
• Sandy Wexler (2017)
• Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (2017)
• New Dogs, Old Tricks (2018)
• Chad Goes Deep (2019)

Awards and Recognitions

Professional Awards

American Music Awards

• 2003: Won – Fan's Choice Award
• 2003: Nominated – Favorite Male Artist – Pop or Rock

Billboard Awards

• 2003: Won – Best Selling Single of 2003 – "Bridge Over Troubled Water/This Is The Night"
• 2004: Won – Best Selling Christmas Album – Merry Christmas with Love
• 2004: Won – Best Selling Christian Album – Merry Christmas with Love
• 2005: Won – Best Selling Christian Album – Merry Christmas with Love

New Music Weekly Awards

• 2004: Won – Top 40 Male Artist of the Year

American Christian Music Awards

• 2005: Won – Outstanding Yule CD – Merry Christmas with Love

Achievement Awards

• 2005 Robert M. Barg Memorial Achievement Award
• 2006 UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
• 2007 National Center for Learning Disabilities' Children's Advocacy Award
• 2009 The Family Circle Award from the Family Equality Council

See also

In Spanish: Clay Aiken para niños

• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of Decca Records artists
• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors