Free Download Lyrics 2025

During the summer of 2005, Aiken, with a seven-piece band and three back-up singers, toured with the "Jukebox Tour", performing songs of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, as well as a few favorites from Measure of a Man. He also performed a few new songs being considered for his next album.[78] In early November 2005, Aiken launched his second Christmas tour. The 2005 Joyful Noise tour featured a series of vignettes, written by Aiken,[79] which told the story of an older woman who had lost the Christmas spirit and a young boy who helps her find it again. A cast of actors, dancers and back-up singers traveled with the tour, and members of local theater groups were added in each venue for smaller, non-speaking roles and crowd scenes. The tour opened in Vancouver, British Columbia, on November 2, and ended in Clearwater, Florida on December 30. According to Pollstar, Aiken's first five tours grossed $28 million.[80][81] In December 2006, Aiken began his third Christmas tour, comprising performances in 18 Midwest and East Coast cities. Aiken was supported by local orchestras, which also opened the concerts with a program of seasonal music.[82] A 23-date tour in support of his third album, A Thousand Different Ways, began on July 4, 2007, and ended in Orlando, Florida, on August 19. On this tour Aiken hired local symphonies to back him, along with tour regulars Jesse Vargas, pianist, conductor and arranger; Sean McDaniel, drummer; and Quiana Parler and Angela Fisher, backup singers. Stops included the Greek Theatre (Los Angeles), Chautauqua Institution in New York, and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Three days into the tour, Aiken and a woman were involved in an in-flight altercation in which she allegedly shoved him. As a result of the scuffle, Aiken and the woman were later questioned by the FBI.[83] Aiken told Entertainment Tonight that he had been sleeping when the incident occurred.[84] His fourth annual Christmas tour, "Christmas in the Heartland", began on November 26, 2007, in Wichita, Kansas.[85] That 21-date tour ended on December 22, 2007, in Merrillville, Indiana. He has ended all of his Christmas tours with his signature Christmas song, "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day". Aiken and Ruben Studdard brought their "Timeless" tour to cities in the US and Canada beginning in Asheville, North Carolina, on July 23, 2010, and ending in Biloxi, Mississippi, on August 14.[52][86][87] Instead of a concert focusing on each singers recordings, Aiken and Studdard opted for a variety show format covering medleys of songs from the 1960s to the 1990s with a few solos and interspersed with comedy bits.[88] Aiken announced on July 30, 2010, that he will be touring in February and March 2011 in conjunction with PBS to support his album Tried and True and accompanying live DVD Clay Aiken: Tried and True – Live.[89][90] Aiken began his fifth Christmas tour "Joyful Noise 2012" in Florida in November 2012.[91][92] Activism[edit] In 1995, Aiken started working at the YMCA.[23] At 19, Aiken taught at Brentwood Elementary School in a class of kids with autism. It was during that experience that he decided to finish college and become a special education teacher.[24] Aiken has participated in multiple benefit events and concerts, including the 2004 Rosalynn Carter Benefit, the America's Promise Benefit, and Heather Headley's Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit, "Home", where he sang a duet with Headley.[93] He was one of the celebrity readers for the Arthur Celebrity Audiobook (Stories for Heroes Series), which benefits the Bubel/Aiken Foundation (now the National Inclusion Project) and other charities, and served as spokesperson for the series. He was also a spokesperson for the 2004 Toys For Tots drive, and acted as an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Aiken worked with the Make A Wish Foundation to make one little boy's dream of singing on stage with Clay Aiken come true.[94] In September 2006, Aiken was appointed to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities by President George W. Bush. Appointees serve a two-year term; Aiken was sworn on September 14, 2006, by HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, PhD[12] While appearing in Spamalot, Aiken used his free time and celebrity to help raise funds for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) during their fund drives and auctions.[95][96] In 2010, Aiken spoke out for gay rights at the Human Rights Campaign dinner in North Carolina.[97] He also joined other celebrities in filming an educational video for Cyndi Lauper's web based Give a Damn campaign, a project of her True Colors Fund. In addition to UNICEF and his National Inclusion Project he is promoting GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network as one of his causes on his official website.[98][99] National Inclusion Project (formerly BAF)[edit] Main article: National Inclusion Project Aiken's interest in autism issues led him, along with Diane Bubel (whose son Michael is diagnosed with autism and was tutored by Aiken), to found the National Inclusion Project (formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation), which supports the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of their non-disabled peers.[100] The foundation runs summer camps which reflect its mission, and also presents Able to Serve awards to support the volunteer efforts of children with physical and mental disabilities.[101][102] In July 2005, Raleigh's WRAL-TV reported on an internet campaign mounted by critics questioning how Aiken's foundation used its money. WRAL news hired an independent accountant who reported that program services totaled $920,000 in 2004—around 85 cents on every dollar donated—which is considered a solid percentage compared to other charities.[103] CNN picked up the story, and Aiken appeared on Showbiz Tonight to provide details about the foundation's programs.[104] In late 2004, the foundation was awarded a $500,000 grant by the US government to develop a K–12 model for inclusion in community service projects to be used in schools across the country. In addition, State Farm granted $1.5 million to the foundation to help develop a primary education curriculum focused on teaching social and life skills through service to children of all levels of ability.[105] On August 5, 2009, in an open letter from the founders, Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel announced that they would rename the organization as the "National Inclusion Project".[10] UNICEF[edit] In November 2004, Aiken was appointed a U.S. Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador, with a mission to help ensure that children everywhere are afforded a primary education.[11] After the tsunami at the end of 2004, he participated in the NBC4 telethon, which raised over $10 million, and recorded public service announcements in support of South Asian tsunami relief. He later recorded a video, featuring the song "Give A Little Bit", to be used as a public service announcement to raise money for tsunami victims. He was the 2005 spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF drive.[106] In March 2005, UNICEF sent Aiken to the tsunami-stricken Banda Aceh area to raise awareness of the need to restore education quickly to the children who survived this disaster.[107] UNICEF sent Aiken on another mission in May 2005, to northern Uganda, to witness the plight of children called "night commuters", who flee the villages each night to sleep in streets and shelters in hopes of avoiding being kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army. He was sent to Kabul and Bamyan, in Afghanistan in April 2007, where he was able to spend time with children in their classrooms; he also visited a health center for women and children where he administered oral polio vaccinations to babies. He observed that Afghani children, after being forbidden for so many years by the Taliban regime to attend school, are eager to return to school now that they are once again allowed to receive an education.[108] Aiken spent his 2007 Christmas in Mexico with the children affected by the floods in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco.[109][110] In late June and early July 2008, UNICEF sent Aiken to Somalia and Kenya.[111][112] Politics[edit] 2014 Congressional election[edit] Clay Aiken speaking at Politicon in June 2016. In the 2014 midterm elections, Aiken was the Democratic Party's nominee for North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. He won the Democratic primary, held on May 6, 2014, by fewer than 400 votes. His main opponent, Keith Crisco, died days after the primary vote but before the votes could be certified.[113][114] In the general election, held on November 4, 2014, Aiken was defeated by incumbent Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, 59 to 41 percent.[115] North Carolina's 2nd district is considered a safe Republican seat. Aiken's campaign was captured by a filmmaking team and shown in the 2015 documentary miniseries The Runner-Up, which aired on the Esquire Network.[116] Since coming out as gay in 2008, Aiken has been more politically outspoken, particularly on gay rights and same-sex marriage.[117][118] He spoke out against North Carolina Amendment 1, adopted in 2012, which banned gay marriage and civil unions in the state.[117] When he ran for Congress, however, he said he did not want to be perceived as a single-issue candidate and said gay marriage was "not the issue" he was campaigning on.[118] He said he wanted to focus on issues that were more important to people in his district.[118][119] His assertion earned him a number of critics among supporters of same-sex marriage, including Bill Maher.[119] Citing his appearance on The Apprentice, Aiken defended Donald Trump against accusations of racism during the 2016 presidential race.[120] However, following the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Aiken tweeted an apology for denying Trump was racist, going so far to say, "I'm a fucking dumbass."[120] Aiken reiterated that he was a Democrat and did not vote for Trump. 2022 Congressional election[edit] In January 2022, Aiken released a video titled "Warming Up", in which he announced that he would run for the Democratic nomination in North Carolina's 4th congressional district.[121][non-primary source needed][122][123] In this video, Aiken is quoted as saying, "If the loudest and most hateful voices think they are going to speak for us, just tell them I'm warming up the old vocal chords."[124] Sara Pequeño, a member of the Raleigh-based The News & Observer editorial board, criticized Aiken for jumping into the race when other Democratic candidates had more political experience and questioned "what has he done to serve North Carolina?"[125][126] In the Democratic primary, Aiken was overshadowed by two other Democratic candidates, state Senator Valerie Foushee and Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam and he finished third place in the eight candidate primary. Electoral history[edit] 2014[edit] Democratic primary election results Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Clay Aiken 11,634 40.83 Democratic Keith Crisco 11,265 39.54 Democratic Toni Morris 5,593 19.63 Turnout 28,492 North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, 2014[127] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Renee Ellmers (Incumbent) 122,128 58.83 Democratic Clay Aiken 85,479 41.17 Total votes 207,607 100 2022[edit] 2022 North Carolina's 4th congressional district Democratic primary[128] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Valerie Foushee 40,531 46.15 Democratic Nida Allam 32,424 36.92 Democratic Clay Aiken 6,469 7.37 Democratic Ashley Ward 4,730 5.39 Democratic Richard Watkins III 1,132 1.29 Democratic Crystal Cavalier 1,104 1.26 Democratic Stephen Valentine 1,004 1.14 Democratic Matt Grooms 433 0.49 Total votes 87,827 100.0 Fans[edit] Aiken at a 2006 Christmas tour appearance in Merrillville, Indiana Aiken was voted the Favorite Reality Star of 2003 by TV Guide readers and "the most-loved reality star of all time" in a TV Guide poll conducted in the summer of 2005.[129] In February 2006, People magazine readers voted Aiken their "Favorite American Idol".[130] While the origin of the term "Claymates" is unknown, Aiken trademarked the term.[131] While in Los Angeles in September 2006 for a CD signing and appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Aiken talked with Jann Carl of Entertainment Tonight about the names various sub-groups have given themselves: "Claysians" (Asian fans), "Claynadians" (Canadian fans), "Clayropeans" (European fans) and "Claydawgs" (male fans). She then teased him about having his own "Clay Nation".[132] At the CD signing, two young fans asked Aiken to autograph their shoulderblades and then went to the local tattoo parlor to make them permanent; later that day on Jimmy Kimmel Live! they were brought on stage to show the tattoos. Although some of his fans have been criticized at times by the media as being obsessive,[133] he defends the group as a whole. When Kimmel said to Aiken that his fans were "crazy", Aiken stated that they were merely "enthusiastic". In 2003, in anticipation of the release of Measure of a Man, fans all over the country decided to get together and hold parties to celebrate the release of the CD and purchase copies at midnight. In 2006, for the release of A Thousand Different Ways, release parties were held in more than 80 cities in the United States, Canada, and Singapore.[134][135][136] Personal life[edit] On August 8, 2008, Aiken announced, on his personal blog, the birth of his son in North Carolina: "My dear friend, Jaymes, and I are so excited to announce the birth of Parker Foster Aiken."[137] The child's mother, Jaymes Foster, is the sister of record producer David Foster, executive producer of Aiken's last three albums on the RCA label. "The little man is healthy, happy, and as loud as his daddy", Aiken wrote. "Mama Jaymes is doing quite well also."[138] In his book, Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, Aiken said, "It's a Southern tradition to be given your first name from your grandmama's maiden name."[139] Aiken's middle name came from his paternal grandmother's maiden name; he and Foster used the married surnames of their mothers to name their son. After several years of public speculation, Aiken came out as gay in a September 2008 interview with People magazine.[140] He later said that his coming out caused him to lose "fifty percent of [his] fanbase" at the time.[141] In April 2009, Aiken was honored by the Family Equality Council advocacy group at its annual benefit dinner in New York City.[142] On November 18, 2010, Aiken went to Washington, D.C., on behalf of Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) at a Capitol Hill briefing talking about anti-gay bullying.[143] Faith and philosophy[edit] Aiken was born into a Baptist family. As a toddler, in 1980, he attended Leesville Baptist Church every week. According to his book, Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life,[144] he was involved in Bible school, choir, and the youth group. The book made The New York Times Best Seller list in 2004, debuting at number two. It was written with Allison Glock and published by Random House. Barely mentioning American Idol, Aiken instead turned his focus to the people who had the most influence in his life—his mother, grandparents, siblings, teachers, and friends—and to the importance of religion in his life. He describes himself as a proud Southern Baptist who journeyed away from those roots in his late teens in search of a religion with more liberal social policies. He then returned to that church because of family and social ties, although he remains at odds with the church on some issues. When asked in a PBS Kids interview to name his idols, he responded, "When people ask me what three people I'd like to have dinner with, living or dead, I say Jesus Christ, Mr. Rogers, and Jimmy Carter."[145] While not self-identified as a Christian music artist, Aiken was featured in Christian Music Planet as an "American Idol Christian" in 2004, and in a cover story, "Clay Aiken's Balancing Act", in the January/February 2005 issue.[146][147] His pre-Idol demo albums included several selections of Contemporary Christian Music (or CCM) and gospel songs. A performance of the Commodores' "Jesus is Love" at the American Music Awards in 2003 earned Aiken and Ruben Studdard a standing ovation. Aiken has sung a few CCM songs at his pop concerts and has made Christmas albums, Christmas television specials and performances, and Christmas tours essential elements of his career. Aiken makes it clear that he is aware not everyone shares his religious beliefs and it is not his intention to press these beliefs on others. When he worked as a camp counselor at the YMCA, he challenged other camp faculty by insisting that singing "overtly Christian songs" was inappropriate, as some of the kids were Jewish. "I stood firm ... no child is going to have a spiritual crisis on my watch."[148] His public philosophy, geared towards inclusion and service to others, reflects his stance that decisions about religion should be made at home.[149][150] Discography[edit] Main article: Clay Aiken discography Studio albums[edit] 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[edit] All Is Well (2006) Compilations[edit] The Very Best of Clay Aiken (2009) A Thousand Different Ways/Measure of a Man (2010) DVDs[edit] A Clay Aiken Christmas (2004) Tried and True Live (2010) Filmography[edit] 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[edit] Professional[edit] 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[edit] 2005 Robert M. Barg Memorial Achievement Award[151] 2006 UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumnus Award[152] 2007 National Center for Learning Disabilities' Children's Advocacy Award[153] 2009 The Family Circle Award from the Family Equality Council[142] See also[edit] 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 References[edit] .mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman} ^ a b Aiken, Clay. Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life. (2004) p. 56, .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}ISBN 1-4000-6392-2 ^ Moss, Corey. "No Love for 'Idol' Losers". MTV Retrieved June 23, 2007. ^ Barnes, Ken. "Idol sales standings: A fairly exhaustive list". USA Today. November 9, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2006.(article archived) ^ "Clay Aiken heads 'Here' on next album". Reuters. Billboard March 25, 2008. ^ a b Decca Records – Clay Aiken Retrieved April 8, 2010 Archived April 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine ^ a b Ehlers, Matt A classic move Archived March 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Newsobserver. March 12, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010. ^ "American Idols Top 10 Selling Performers of All Time". Billboard – via Facebook. ^ "Clay Aiken meets Monty Python". CNN. Retrieved February 5, 2008 (article archived). ^ a b Cox, Gordon (August 12, 2008). "Clay Aiken returning to Broadway: 'American Idol' vet to reprise 'Spamalot' role". Variety. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2008. ^ a b An open letter from co-founders Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel: Archived August 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine National Inclusion Project. August 5, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009. ^ a b "Celebrity Ambassadors: Clay Aiken" US Fund for UNICEF website. ^ a b ACF Press Office – PCPID Appointments". Archived September 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine US Dept of Health and Human Services (2006). Retrieved June 22, 2007. ^ "Clay Aiken Already Facing Anti-Gay Rhetoric From Congressional Opponent". ThinkProgress. ^ Ohlheiser, Abby (May 7, 2014). "Tuesday's Primaries Show the GOP Establishment Can Have it All". The Atlantic. Retrieved November 15, 2024. ^ Jarvis, Craig (May 13, 2014). "Aiken victory confirmed as more details on Crisco's death emerge". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2014. ^ Lachman, Samantha (November 4, 2014). "Clay Aiken Defeated in 2014 North Carolina Congressional Race". HuffPost. Retrieved November 6, 2014. ^ "Former American Idol star Clay Aiken is running for Congress again". The Week. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022. ^ Willman, Chris (January 10, 2022). "Clay Aiken Running for Congress in North Carolina". Variety. Retrieved January 10, 2022. ^ a b Aiken, Clay (2004). Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life. Random House. pp. 249–251. ISBN 1-4000-6392-2. ^ Woerner, Tom (May 22, 2003). "Scouts Remember Fallen Veterans". The Dunn Daily Record. Retrieved April 7, 2006.[dead link‍] ^ "Redefined track listing". last.fm. Retrieved June 24, 2007. ^ Demo CD, "Look What Love Has Done Vol 2", track listing. last.fm. Retrieved June 21, 2007. ^ a b Aiken, Clay. "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life" (2004). pp. 133–134, ISBN 1-4000-6392-2. ^ a b Aiken, Clay. "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life" (2004), pp. 153–161, ISBN 1-4000-6392-2. ^ "'American Idol' star Clay Aiken graduates". USA Today. December 24, 2003. Retrieved July 3, 2007. ^ Bronson, Fred. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6. ^ "People Photo Album, Then and Now" Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 24, 2007. ^ Cooper, Chet. "Interview with Clay Aiken". Ability. Retrieved May 24, 2007. ^ Seibel, Deborah Starr. "American Idol Outrage: Your Vote Doesn't Count". Broadcasting & Cable. May 17, 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2006. ^ Martin, Logan. "It's Going to be a Very Strong Season, I Think: An Interview with American Idol Producer Nigel Lythgoe". Archived February 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Reality News Online. January 17, 2006. Retrieved April 8, 2006. ^ Hedegaard, Erik (July 10, 2003). "Clay Aiken: New kid on the block". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ Tauber, Michelle. "Clay Aiken Facing the Music". People. New York, October 2, 2006. Vol. 66, Iss. 14; pg. 122. ^ "Clay Aiken Biography". People. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ "34 Clay Aike Photos". People. June 5, 2007. Archived from the original on June 5, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ "'American Idol Rewind' premieres locally". Syracuse.com. September 29, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ "American Idol Rewind Returns to Highlight American Idol Season Two". Movieweb. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ "Top earners from 'American Idol'". Abc2news.com. July 25, 2011. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013. ^ "Aiken CD Highest-Selling Debut Album Since 1993". WRAL. November 6, 2003. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ Rogers, Steve. Clay Aiken's "Merry Christmas With Love" holiday album debuts to record sales realitytvworld.com. November 29, 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2009. ^ "New Releases, Sept. 19: Elton John, Clay Aiken, Diana Krall" Archived May 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine liveDaily.com. September 18, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2009. ^ Bliss, Karen. "Aiken and Canadian Producer See Eye to Eye"[usurped]. JAM! November 7, 2005. Retrieved April 8, 2006. ^ "Clay Aiken Releases New Album". Access Hollywood. August 3, 2006. Archived from the original on October 29, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ "Chart Beat: Fred discusses Clay Aiken, Miki Howard and more". Billboard. September 28, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2023. ^ "All is Well: Songs for Christmas (Wal-Mart Exclusive)". Wal-Mart. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2023. ^ Richards, Constance. "Clay Aiken: 'Idol Is a Drug'" Archived April 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. People. April 3, 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2007. ^ Cohen, Jonathan. "Clay Aiken Heads 'Here' On Next Album". Billboard. March 21, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2008. ^ Clay Aiken Parts Ways With RCA Billboard. by Shirley Halperin. February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ Clay Aiken Leaves His Record Label People. by David Caplan. February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ Clay Aiken's favorite songs was released through the Playlist Series ClayOnline News. February 27, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2009. ^ Top Internet Albums for the 4/18/2009 issue Reuters UK. April 10, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009. ^ We Are Excited To Announce... ClayOnline News. August 10, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009. ^ a b Graff, Gary. Clay Aiken Ready For Tour, Would Return to 'Idol' As Judge Billboard. June 23, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2010. ^ Mansfield, Brian (April 4, 2012). "McCreery's 'Clear as Day' takes the top 'Idol' album spot". USA Today. Idol Chatter. Retrieved December 15, 2013. ^ Clay Aiken at IMDb ^ q:Clay Aiken#Quotes about Clay Aiken ^ Serpe, Gina. "Ripa Rips Clay; Rosie Responds". E!. November 21, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2006. ^ "The Z List: This Week's Biggest Losers". TMZ. November 25, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2006. ^ "People Photo Album, Comic Relief" Archived June 5, 2007, at the