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	UNC Charlotte (BA)
Occupation	Singer-songwriter politician actor author
Years active	2003–present
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 star, actor, and activist. He became famous in 2003 when he finished second on the TV show American Idol. His first album, Measure of a Man, sold millions of copies.

Clay Aiken has released several successful albums and gone on many tours. He has sold over 5 million albums, making him one of the top-selling artists from American Idol. Besides music, he has written a bestselling book, acted on Broadway in Spamalot, and appeared on many TV shows like The Celebrity Apprentice.

He is also known for his charity work. He co-founded the National Inclusion Project, which helps include children with disabilities in everyday activities. He also worked as a UNICEF ambassador, traveling to help children around the world. In recent years, he has also run for political office in North Carolina.

Early Life and Education

Clay Aiken was born and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. From a young age, he loved to sing. He sang in school choirs, church groups, and local theater shows. Before becoming famous, he even sang the national anthem for hockey teams like the Carolina Hurricanes.

When he was 19, he legally changed his last name to Aiken, which was his mother's maiden name. He went to Leesville Road High School and later studied at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Clay Aiken found his passion for helping others while working at the YMCA as a teenager. He realized he wanted to work with children who have special needs. He even worked as a substitute teacher for students with autism. It was the mother of a child he helped who encouraged him to try out for American Idol. Even while touring after American Idol, he finished his college degree in special education in 2003.

American Idol Journey

Clay Aiken first appeared on TV during the second season of American Idol. The judges were surprised by his singing talent after hearing him perform "Always and Forever." He made it to the Top 32 but was cut. However, he got a second chance in the "Wild Card" round. His performance of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" won over the viewers, sending him to the final 12.

During the show, Clay Aiken was known for his powerful ballads and upbeat songs. He never landed in the bottom three, showing how popular he was with viewers. People also noticed his "geek to chic" transformation, as he changed his look from glasses to contact lenses and updated his hairstyle.

On May 21, 2003, Clay Aiken finished second in the competition, with Ruben Studdard winning. It was a very close vote, with millions of votes cast.

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

After American Idol, Clay Aiken quickly became a music star.

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

His first album, Measure of a Man, came out in October 2003. It went straight to number one on the music charts and sold over 600,000 copies in its first week! This was a huge success for a new artist. The album included his hit songs "Invisible" and "This Is the Night". He won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards that year.

In November 2004, he released a holiday album called Merry Christmas with Love. It became the fastest-selling holiday album since 1991 and was the best-selling holiday album of 2004.

More Music and Tours

Clay Aiken's second studio album, A Thousand Different Ways, was released in 2006. It debuted at number two on the charts. He also released a Christmas EP (Extended Play) called All Is Well in 2006.

In 2008, he released On My Way Here. Later, in 2010, he signed with Decca Records and released Tried and True, which featured songs from the 1950s and 1960s. He even had a concert filmed for PBS to support this album. His album Steadfast followed in 2012.

Clay Aiken has had many successful tours throughout his career, often performing with orchestras and local choirs. His Christmas tours, like "The Joyful Noise Tour," were very popular. He has also toured with fellow American Idol star Ruben Studdard, performing medleys of popular songs.

Television Appearances

Clay Aiken has been on many TV shows, both as a singer and an actor.

In 2003, he sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the national anthem at the 2003 World Series. He also appeared in holiday specials, even singing with Bing Crosby using special effects!

He starred in and produced his own TV special, A Clay Aiken Christmas, in 2004. He has been a musical guest on Saturday Night Live and a frequent guest on talk shows like The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Clay Aiken has also acted in TV shows. He played himself on Ed and All My Children. He was a cafeteria worker on Scrubs and appeared on Days of Our Lives. In 2009, he made a guest appearance on 30 Rock, playing a cousin to the character Kenneth. He also sang a duet with Chaka Khan on an episode of Phineas and Ferb in 2010.

In 2012, he competed on The Celebrity Apprentice, where he finished second and raised a lot of money for his charity, the National Inclusion Project. He also appeared in one of the last episodes of The Office and on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2024, he reunited with Ruben Studdard to compete on The Masked Singer as "Beets."

Broadway and Theater

Clay Aiken made his Broadway debut in January 2008, joining the cast of Monty Python's Spamalot. He played the role of Sir Robin in the popular musical. He returned to the show later that year. In 2018, he and Ruben Studdard performed a Christmas show together on Broadway.

He has also performed in other theater productions. In 2013, he starred in The Drowsy Chaperone and played Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 2019, he was "Teen Angel" in a production of Grease.

Activism and Charity Work

Clay Aiken has always been passionate about helping others, especially children with disabilities.

National Inclusion Project

In 2003, Clay Aiken co-founded the National Inclusion Project (originally called the Bubel/Aiken Foundation) with Diane Bubel. This organization works to help children with disabilities be included in activities with their non-disabled friends. They support summer camps and other programs that promote inclusion. The foundation has received grants and support from organizations like State Farm to develop educational programs.

UNICEF Ambassador

In 2004, Clay Aiken became a U.S. Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador. His goal was to help make sure children around the world could get a basic education. He traveled to places affected by natural disasters, like the tsunami-stricken area of Banda Aceh, and to northern Uganda to help children fleeing conflict. He also visited Afghanistan to see children returning to school and helped give polio vaccinations. He continued to travel for UNICEF, visiting Mexico, Somalia, and Kenya to support children in need.

Political Involvement

Clay Aiken has also entered the world of politics.

Congressional Elections

In 2014, he ran for the United States House of Representatives in North Carolina as a Democratic Party candidate. He won the primary election but lost to the Republican candidate in the general election.

In 2022, he announced he would run for the Democratic nomination again in a different district in North Carolina. He finished third in that primary election.

Electoral History

2014

2022

Fans and Personal Life

Aiken at a 2006 Christmas tour appearance in Merrillville, Indiana

Clay Aiken has a very dedicated fan base, often called "Claymates." TV Guide readers voted him the "Favorite Reality Star of 2003" and "the most-loved reality star of all time" in 2005. His fans have held parties to celebrate his album releases.

In 2008, Clay Aiken announced the birth of his son, Parker Foster Aiken, with his friend Jaymes Foster.

Faith and Beliefs

Clay Aiken grew up in a Baptist family and has spoken about the importance of faith in his life. He wrote a bestselling book, Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, which talks about the people who influenced him and the role of religion. He believes in inclusion and serving others, emphasizing that decisions about religion should be made at home.

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)
• 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 Nominations

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

Images for kids

• 

  Aiken at a 2006 Christmas tour appearance in Waukegan, Illinois

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