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Clay Aiken

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Clay Aiken (born Clayton Holmes Grissom on November 30, 1978) is an American pop singer who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. After placing second, RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released in October 2003. Subsequently, he has released three more albums: Merry Christmas with Love, A Thousand Different Ways, and the Christmas EP, All is Well. Based on his album sales, which are surpassed only by winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, Aiken has become the most successful second-place finisher in that show's history.[1][2]

Aiken has launched six tours to date, grossing $28 million dollars.[3][4] While on tour during the summer of 2004, Aiken wrote his NY Times best-selling book Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life with Allison Glock. He was the executive producer for his 2004 televised Christmas special, A Clay Aiken Christmas, which was later released on DVD. Aiken has been a frequent talk show guest, particularly on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and has participated in comedy skits on Kimmel and Saturday Night Live. He worked as a correspondent for The Insider at the 2005 Emmy Awards, and has appeared on several television dramas as a guest actor/singer, including Ed, Scrubs, and Days of Our Lives.

While a contestant on the American Idol show Aiken said that he wanted to use his celebrity to give back. Following that path, he created the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, accepted a UNICEF ambassadorship, has given his support to various charities and was appointed by George W. Bush to a committee that acts in an advisory capacity to the President and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on matters relating to programs and services for persons with intellectual disabilities.[5]


Biography

Early years

Clay Aiken was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. As a young boy, Aiken sang in the Raleigh Boychoir and as a teenager, he sang in school choirs, church choir, musicals and local theatre productions. After high school he sang lead with a local band, Just By Chance,[6] and performed with the band at country music specials at Johnston Community College. He was also an MC and performer for a series of local country music shows called the Hometown Connection. As a present for his birthday Aiken's mother arranged for studio time where he recorded a CD titled Look What Love Has Done.[7]

Aiken attended Raleigh's Leesville Road High School and took courses at Campbell University before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He found his interest in special education while directing YMCA children's camps as a teenager, and at age 19 he served as a substitute teacher for a classroom of students with autism at Brentwood Elementary School in Raleigh. While attending college in Charlotte he took a part-time job as an assistant to a boy with autism, and it was this child's mother, Diane Bubel, who urged him to audition for American Idol. Although his American Idol activities temporarily delayed his academic pursuits, Aiken completed his course work while on tour and graduated with a bachelor's degree in special education in December of 2003.

American Idol

Television viewers' first glimpse of Aiken came during the audition episodes at the beginning of American Idol's second season. The show's judges first saw Aiken as a nerdy type unlikely to be any kind of idol, but they were immediately impressed once he began singing Heatwave's "Always and Forever". The clip of the judges' surprise during this audition performance was replayed many times over the course of the competition.

Aiken made it to the round-of-32, but was cut from the show on his first try, a performance of Journey's "Open Arms". He finished third in his semifinal group of eight behind eventual winner Ruben Studdard and eventual third-place finisher Kimberley Locke. He was invited to return for the "Wild Card" round, at which his performance of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" propelled him into the final 12 as the viewer's choice. Within a few weeks (aided by a makeover from the show's producers), Aiken emerged as a favorite of both the judges and the fans. While noted for his performance of ballads, such as the dramatically-lit rendition of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire", his upbeat performances, including The Foundations' "Build Me Up Buttercup", were also met with enthusiasm from the voters.

On 21 May, 2003, Aiken came in a close second to Studdard, who won the contest by a narrow margin--just over 130,000 votes out of more than 24,000,000 votes cast. The result was controversial, as some hypothesized that Idol's voting system was incapable of handling the number of attempted calls, thereby possibly yielding a random result.[8] In an interview prior to the start of the fifth season of American Idol, Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe revealed for the first time that Aiken had led the fan voting every week from the Wild Card week to the finale, when the possibly-random voting result gave Studdard the win.[9] Though officially Aiken was the show's "first runner-up," he has since gone on to be the second season's best-selling star.

Rolling Stone featured Aiken on the cover of their July 2003 magazine. In the cover article he mentioned accidentally running over his kitten, saying, "When I was about sixteen, I had a kitten and ran over it. Seeing that cat die, I actually think that its spirit has haunted me. I wasn't afraid of cats before. But now they scare me to death." Later that year PETA, based on Aiken's comment, drafted an insulting ad featuring Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.[10] Aiken's attorneys stepped in and PETA spokeswoman Ingrid Newkirk told the New York Daily News. "We got a lawyer calling and our lawyers said maybe we can work something out, make the ad evaporate, and put a leash on the insult dog."[11] The ad campaign never launched.

Aiken appeared three times on American Idol during Season Three. On the Top 12 show, he performed "Solitaire" and gave advice to the finalists. On Disco Night, he performed Earth, Wind & Fire's "Fantasy" with the final four, and reviewed the remaining contestants. On the final night of the season, he hosted a gathering of Fantasia fans in Greensboro Coliseum. During Season Four Aiken appeared on several entertainment shows to defend Paula Abdul from the accusations of Corey Clark,[12] and was interviewed in the Idol audience by Ryan Seacrest.

Aiken made a surprise appearance in the star-studded Season 5 finale of American Idol. Failed auditioner Michael Sandecki returned to the show to receive a "Golden Idol" award for Best Impersonator for his Clay Aiken-like appearance. During the middle of his victory serenade, Aiken walked out, debuting a new look with longer, darker hair, and joined him in singing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." The entrance brought the crowd to its feet, and Sandecki was left speechless.[13]

Music

On October 14, 2003, Aiken released his first solo album, Measure of a Man, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and was, with 613,000 copies sold in its first week, the highest-selling debut for a solo artist in 10 years, and to date the highest debut of any Idol. The album received RIAA Double Platinum certification November 17, 2003 (a Double Platinum plaque was presented to Clay by Clive Davis on October 21, 2003, during Good Morning America) and has sold more than 2,750,000 units to date. The album spawned both the hit single "Invisible" and his first hit song, "This Is the Night" (both co-written by British songwriter Chris Braide). Later that year, Aiken won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards ceremony, and his CD single "This Is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water" won the Billboard award for the Best-Selling Single of 2003. His first music video had debuted on MTV's TRL in November and it was this song, "Invisible", that he performed at the Billboard awards.

That same month, Aiken also released a holiday album entitled Merry Christmas With Love, which set a new record for fastest-selling holiday album in the Soundscan era (since 1991). The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and tied Céline Dion's record for the highest debut by a holiday album in the history of Billboard magazine. "Merry Christmas With Love" sold over 1,000,000 copies retail in 6 weeks and was the best-selling holiday album of 2004, receiving RIAA Platinum certification on Jan. 6, 2005.

Aiken's third album, A Thousand Different Ways, was released September 19, 2006.[14] He worked on the album under the guidance of Canadian producer and A&R executive Jaymes Foster.[15] The album contains ten cover songs, and four new songs, one which Aiken co-wrote.[16] One additional song, "Lover All Alone", written by Aiken and David Foster is included with the album on iTunes. Debuting at #2 on the Billboard chart, it made Aiken the fourth artist ever to have his first three albums debut in the Top 5 and scan over 200,000 in the first week.[17] Clive Davis is credited with the cover concept.

Aiken's fourth album, All is Well (an EP of four Christmas songs), was released exclusively to Walmart on November 28, 2006.[18]

Aiken stated in an April interview with People that he is looking at making a new album soon,[19] and at his May 2006 Kimmel appearance, he mentioned that he was in Los Angeles interviewing producers for the new album.

Aiken is scheduled to be the sole musical performer for the Capitol One Holiday Ice skating special, featuring Yuka Sato, Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge, and Philippe Candeloro, to be broadcast on December 25, 2007, on NBC.[20]

Television

Aiken has made many television appearances.[21] He sang The Star-Spangled Banner on opening night of the 2003 World Series and appeared in numerous television specials during the winter of 2003, including Disney's Christmas Day Parade and the Nick At Nite Holiday Special, where he sang a duet with Bing Crosby via special effects. The song was "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth", which was originally sung by Crosby and David Bowie on a 1977 Christmas special. On July 4th, 2004, Aiken was one of the performers in the A Capitol Fourth concert in Washington, DC. In December 2004, Aiken starred in his first TV special, titled A Clay Aiken Christmas, with special guests Barry Manilow, Yolanda Adams, and Megan Mullally. He was also Executive Producer for the Christmas special, which was released on DVD later that month. He performed in the Good Morning America Summer Concert Series in 2004 and 2005, and has appeared on a variety of shows each year since Idol singing Christmas songs.

Aiken was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 2004, and also participated in several skits. He has appeared multiple times on The Tonight Show, interviewing with Jay Leno as a guest in addition to being the musical guest, and he has become a regular guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Kimmel appearances often feature skits: in one Kimmel's girlfriend Sarah Silverman confessed to an affair with Aiken, and in another, Aiken expressed his distaste for Kimmel's jokes about him by beating him up. In May of 2007, he spent the first half of his interview on horseback while talking about his recent UNICEF trip to Afghanistan. A few weeks later he appeared as a spokesperson for "Guillermo's Mustache" in Kimmel's fictional DVD informercial shown on the Dancing With the Stars finale. In the spring of 2005, Aiken helped Oprah Winfrey fulfill the "Wildest Dreams" of Nebraska twins with learning disabilities headed for college and appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil concerning bullying among teens. He made his acting debut on Ed in early 2004 playing himself, and in 2005 he was interviewed by Erica Kane on All My Children and played the role of cafeteria worker Kenny whose job was in jeopardy on the Scrubs episode "My Life in Four Cameras". In December 2006, he made an appearance as himself on Days of our Lives.

Host, as well as performer, for the American Idol Christmas special in 2003, Aiken has had several subsequent hosting jobs. In 2005, he was a special correspondent for The Insider for the Emmy Awards, and on the sets of the sitcom Reba with Reba McEntire and Dancing With the Stars, before hitting the road for his Jukebox Tour. He was a co-host of The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet in 2006, and on November 17, 2006, Aiken was a guest host on Live with Regis and Kelly, filling in for Regis Philbin. During an interview Aiken covered Kelly Ripa's mouth with his hand.[22][23] There was considerable reaction after Kelly complained at length about the incident on her show the following Monday.[24] Aiken made fun of the controversy on the 2006 American Music Awards the next night with Tori Spelling.[25] On the The Tyra Banks Show in 2006, filmed before the Ripa incident, Aiken mentioned wanting to have his own talk show someday, and Banks switched seats with him and let him interview her for one segment of the show.

Tours

From February to April 2004, Aiken embarked on the "Independent Tour" with Kelly Clarkson, winner of the first American Idol contest. Following this tour, he was scheduled for a few summer solo tour dates, but high demand ultimately led to the booking of fifty dates across the United States, resulting in what many fans called the "Not-a-Tour." Disney's Aladdin Special Edition 2-Disc DVD was the exclusive sponsor of Clay's Summer Concert Tour. Each concert previewed Aiken's rendition of "Proud of Your Boy", a song originally intended for the first release of the film but cut when the Aladdin storyline changed during production. A music video, featuring Aiken, is presented on the Aladdin Special Edition 2-Disc DVD. On this tour he also performed a duet, "Without You," which was featured on Kimberley Locke's 2004 debut album One Love.

In November 2004, Aiken launched his third tour of the year, which revolved around a Christmas theme. "The Joyful Noise Tour", sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities, featured a conductor and a 30-piece orchestra. In some cities, Aiken was supported by the local philharmonic or symphony, such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Local choirs from high schools and elementary schools also participated at each concert.

Aiken at a 2006 Christmas tour appearance in Waukegan, IL

During the summer of 2005, Aiken, along with a seven-piece band and three back-up singers, toured part of North America with the "Jukebox Tour," performing songs of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, as well as a few favorites from Measure of a Man. He also performed a few new songs being considered for his next album.

In early November 2005, Aiken launched his second Christmas tour. The 2005 Joyful Noise tour featured a series of vignettes, written by Aiken, which told the story of an older woman who has 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, Canada, on November 2, and ended in Clearwater, Florida on December 30.

In December 2006, Aiken mounted his third Christmas tour, comprising performances in eighteen Midwest and East Coast cities. The tour opened in Waukegan, Illinois on December 1 and ended in Greensboro, North Carolina on December 23. Aiken was supported by local orchestras, which also opened the concerts with a program of seasonal music. Banter between songs, always a feature on Aiken tours, increased on this tour to the point that approximately 40 minutes of the hour and a half long set was comedy and conversation from Aiken.

A 20 date tour across the US is planned for the summer of 2007. Unofficially named the "Soft Rock and a Hard Place Tour," on this tour Aiken will perform with local symphonies, back-up singers, and a band, beginning in Frisco, Texas on July 4 and ending in Orlando, Florida on August 19. A fourth Christmas tour later in 2007 is also planned.

Learning to Sing: Faith & Philosophy

In 2004 Aiken made the New York Times Best Seller List, debuting at #2, with his "inspirational memoir" entitled Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, written with Allison Glock, and published by Random House. An audio version read by Aiken, with slight differences, was also produced. Barely mentioning American Idol, in the book he instead turned his focus to the people who had the most influence in his life--his mother, grandparents, siblings, teachers, friends--and to the importance of religion in his life.

While not self-identified as a Christian music artist, Aiken was featured in Christian Music Planet as an "American Idol Christian" in 2004,[26] and in a cover story, "Clay Aiken's Balancing Act," in January/February 2005.[27] His pre-Idol demo albums included several CCM and gospel songs, and a performance of the Commodores' "Jesus is Love" earned Aiken and Ruben Studdard a standing ovation at the American Music Awards in 2003. Aiken has sung CCM songs at his pop and Christmas concerts. While his pop concerts are primarily secular, Aiken has made Christmas albums, Christmas television specials and performances, and Christmas tours essential elements of his career.

He described himself in Learning to Sing as a proud Southern Baptist who had journeyed away from those roots in his late teens in search of a religion with more liberal social policies, and then returned to that church because of family and social ties although he remains at odds with the church on some issues.[28]

Writing about his faith and how much it is a part of him, 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 anyone. He says "... no child is going to have a spiritual crisis on my watch." [29] His public philosophy, geared towards inclusion and service to others, reflects his stance that decisions about religion should be made at home.[30][31]

Activism

Aiken has donated his time and his voice to 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.[32] He was one of the celebrity readers for the "Arthur Celebrity Audiobook (Stories for Heroes Series)," which benefits the BAF and other charities, and served as spokesperson for the series. He was also a spokesperson for the 2004 Toys for Tots drive, and is an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

In September 2006 Aiken was appointed to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.[33] The Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the President and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on matters relating to programs and services for persons with intellectual disabilities.[34] Appointees serve a two-year term, and Aiken was sworn in September 14, 2006 by HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.[35]

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation

Apart from his music career, Aiken has been a dedicated advocate for education and for children's causes. His interest in autism issues led him, along with Diane Bubel (whose son Michael is autistic and was tutored by Aiken), to found the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which supports the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of their non-disabled peers. The BAF runs summer camps which reflect its mission,[36] and also presents Able to Serve awards to support the volunteer efforts of children with physical and mental disabilities.[37] In July 2005, WRAL reported on their evening news program that critics had mounted an internet campaign questioning how Aiken's foundation used its money. WRAL news asked an independent accountant to investigate, 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.[38] CNN picked up the story, and Aiken appeared on Showbiz Tonight to respond on July 25, 2005. He told reporter Sibila Vargas: "We`re not a grant giving organization, so we do spend less than one third on grants....But over a half of our money, in addition to that, goes to programs like summer camps, able to serve programs, youth service programs."[39] In late 2004 the BAF 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 has granted $1.5 million dollars to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to help develop a primary education curriculum focused on teaching social and life skills through service to children of all levels of ability.[40] A fund-raising gala held in Raleigh at the end of March 2007 netted over $330,000 [41] to fund BAF programs and in June, the Executive Director announced a goal of supporting 100 "Let's ALL Play" camps in 2008.[42]

UNICEF

In 2004, Aiken was appointed a United States Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador, with a mission to help ensure that children everywhere are afforded a primary education.[43] 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.

Aiken was the 2005 spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF drive. In May 2006 he visited Middlesex Middle School in Darien, Connecticut, the number one school fundraiser in the country, accepting a check on behalf of UNICEF and to thank the students for their efforts.[44]

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, in order to provide stability in a time of great loss. In April 2005, on behalf of UNICEF, he appeared before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations.[45] In May 2005, UNICEF sent Aiken on another mission, 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. UNICEF sent him to Kabul and Bamyan in Afghanistan in April 2007 where he was able to spend time with children in their classrooms. 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. Aiken also visited the Said Aabad women’s literacy centre in Bamyan, where girls and women from ages 16 to 50 are learning to read and write for the first time.[46] Just before leaving Afghanistan, Aiken launched the "$100,000 in 10 days" campaign to support UNICEF efforts in that country, a campaign that raised a total of over $180,000. [47]

Makeovers: Then and Now

Aiken at a 2006 Christmas tour appearance in Merrillville, IN

"I looked like Opie," Aiken said to People magazine regarding his appearance at his American Idol audition in 2002.[48] After the Wild Card show he replaced his glasses with contact lenses and agreed to let the show's stylists change his hair style.[49] With longer, flat ironed, spiky hair and a penchant for wearing striped shirts, Aiken had established a trademark look by the final American Idol season 2 show. He stayed with this look through the end of 2005.

On May 24, 2006, during the American Idol season 5 final show, with no introduction, Aiken appeared on stage with a completely new look.[50] The stripes and the spiky hairstyle had been replaced with a well-tailored designer suit and a different hair cut.[51] The unexpected change in his look shocked both his impersonator, Michael Sandecki, and the viewing audience. Aiken kept this look throughout his album promotion appearances during 2006.[52]

By his 2006 Christmas tour he had once again changed his hair style, letting it grow quite long.

Aiken had changed his look again in March 2007 when he showed up for a WRAL-TV interview with shorter hair and a full beard.[53] Once again clean shaven, Aiken explained to Jimmy Kimmel in his May 10, 2007 appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show that he had grown the beard for his April 2007 trip with UNICEF to Afghanistan as a show of respect for the local customs.

Fans

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.[54] In February 2006, in a People magazine poll readers voted Aiken their "Favorite American Idol".[55]

No one is quite sure where the term "Claymates" originated, but Aiken has trademarked the term.[56] 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: "Clayasians" (Asian fans), "Claynadians" (Canadian fans)[57] and "Claydawgs" (male fans). She teased him about having his own "Clay Nation".[58] Acting like a "crazed" fan, Jimmy Kimmel made an appearance at the signing and pretended to chase Aiken. A video clip of this was shown later that night on Kimmel's show.

Although a portion of the group has been criticized at times as being obsessive, both in the media and by Aiken himself,[59] he defends the group as a whole. On the September 27, 2006 Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance, when Kimmel said to Aiken that his fans were "crazy". Aiken corrected him saying they were "enthusiastic". Later, during a November appearance on the The Megan Mullally Show, Aiken told Mullally that his fans were wonderful.

Several books have been written about Aiken and his fans. On August 4, 2006 Jeannie Holleman filed a lawsuit in the Wake County Superior Court for more than two million dollars, alleging that Aiken, his mother and others defamed her and conspired to depress sales of her book, "Out of the Blue – 'Clay' it Forward", a vanity press published, "unauthorized tribute to Clay Aiken and his passionate fans." In addition to seeking monetary damages, she asked the court to order Aiken to retract his critical comments; or to endorse Out of the Blue on his official Web site, write an introduction for the book, and sell it at his concerts for at least five years.[60] In a statement issued August 7, 2006 through his record company, RCA, Aiken said, "As a so-called 'celebrity', I have become used to scurrilous allegations and untruths being made about me and my work. I have always taken the path of not reacting to these matters and have accepted them as, somehow, coming with the 'job'. However, I cannot, and will not, stand by when these attacks are made on my family and my charity. So, I have instructed my attorneys to not only vigorously dispute the claims that have been made but to also pursue all possible remedies against those involved in the perpetration of these untruths."[61][60]

In 2003, in anticipation of the release of Measure of a Man, fans all over the country decided to get together and hold what they called CD release parties. In 2006, for the release of A Thousand Different Ways, release parties were held in over 80 cities in the United States, Canada, and Singapore.[62][63][64]

A satirical musical comedy focusing on American Idol, Clay Aiken and "the outrageous and delusional fan base" of the show is set to open at Off-Broadway's 45th Street Theatre on July 5, 2007. The show tells the story of nine high school students, "all belonging to the same cult-like club that meets daily in a garage that doubles as a shrine to Clay Aiken." Song titles include: "Idolize," "Quakin' for Aiken," "Burnin' Hunk of Clay," "Simon Says," "Family of Misfits" and "Realize."[65][66]

Discography

Main article: Clay Aiken discography


Awards and nominations

Professional

American Music Awards

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

Billboard Awards

New Music Weekly Awards

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

American Christian Music Awards

Achievement

  • 2005 Robert M. Barg Memorial Achievement Award[67]
  • 2006 UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumnus Award[68]
  • 2007 National Center for Learning Disabilities' Children's Advocacy Award [69]

See also

References

  1. ^ "No Love for 'Idol' Losers" by Corey Moss, MTV.com Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  2. ^ "Idol sales standings: A fairly exhaustive list" by Ken Barnes, USA Today (11/06). Retrieved 2006-11-23.
  3. ^ "American Idol's Biggest Winners". Forbes.com. January 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  4. ^ ""Popularity Contest"". The Wall Street Journal. June 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ US Dept of Health and Human Services Official Website for The President's committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
  6. ^ "Scouts Remember Fallen Veterans" by Tom Woerner, The Dunn Daily Record (05/22/03). Retrieved 2006-04-07 (article archived)
  7. ^ Demo CD, "Look What Love Has Done Vol 2", track listing last.fm. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  8. ^ "American Idol Outrage: Your Vote Doesn't Count" by Deborah Starr Seibel, Broadcasting & Cable, 5/17/2004, retrieved April 8, 2006
  9. ^ "It's Going to be a Very Strong Season, I Think: An Interview with American Idol Producer Nigel Lythgoe" by Logan Martin for Reality News Online, 01/17/2006, retrieved April 8, 2006
  10. ^ "PETA slogan says Clay is 'neutered' blames it on his killed-a-kitten comment", Reality Blurred, 11/14/03, retrieved 08/28/06
  11. ^ "PETA Gets Catty with Clay", Eonline article
  12. ^ Clay Doubts Corey's Story CBS News, The Early Show, 05/05/05, retrieved June 21, 2007
  13. ^ "'Idol' padding, lack of energy don't make us proud," by David Zurawik, The Baltimore Sun (accessed May 25, 2006)
  14. ^ Idols Back in Competition, American Idol News Blog (official site), July 19, 2006, accessed July 21, 2006
  15. ^ "Aiken and Canadian Producer See Eye to Eye" by Karen Bliss, for JAM! 11/07/2005, retrieved April 8, 2006
  16. ^ clayaiken.com, retrieved August 8, 2006
  17. ^ "Clay Aiken Album 'A Thousand Different Ways' Debuts at Number 2 on Billboard Album Chart With Sales Over 205,000" PRNewswire, 09/27/06
  18. ^ CD: All Is Well: Songs For Christmas
  19. ^ "Clay Aiken: 'Idol Is a Drug'" by Constance Richards, People, Apr. 03, 2007 retrieved April 13, 2006
  20. ^ Capitol One Holiday on Ice. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  21. ^ IMDB - Clay Aiken
  22. ^ Ripa Rips Clay; Rosie Responds, Gina Serpe, E! Online, November 21, 2006, accessed December 17, 2006
  23. ^ Ripa is dis-satisfied with Aiken's actions, "Inner Tube" column, New York Daily News Entertainment, November 21, 2006, accessed December 17, 2006
  24. ^ The Z List : This Week's Biggest Losers 11/25/06, TMZ.com staff, TMZ.com, November 25, 2006, accessed December 17, 2006
  25. ^ People Photo Album, Comic Relief retrieved May 24,2007
  26. ^ "American Idol Christians" -Christian Music Planet, 2004 in Review
  27. ^ "Clay Aiken's Balancing Act" by Andy Argyakis, Christian Music Planet, January/February 2005]
  28. ^ Learning to Sing by Clay Aiken, (2004), pp. 221-230, ISBN 1-4000-6392-2
  29. ^ Learning to Sing by Clay Aiken, (2004), pp. 228, ISBN 1-4000-6392-2
  30. ^ http://www.thebubelaikenfoundation.org/
  31. ^ Learning to Sing by Clay Aiken, (2004), pp. 227-229, ISBN 1-4000-6392-2
  32. ^ Broadwaycares.org Events archive Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  33. ^ White House Press Release on Presidential Appointments, 09/05/06
  34. ^ US Dept of Health and Human Services Official Website for The President's committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
  35. ^ ACF Press Office, US Dept of Health and Human Services
  36. ^ Bubel/Aiken Foundation, "Let's ALL Play" Retrieved 2007-06-23
  37. ^ Youth Service America, Partners & Sponsors Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  38. ^ "Clay Aiken's Nonprofit Group Comes Under Critic Scrutiny". WRAL. July 18, 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-05-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ Showbiz Tonight transcript CNN.com (07/25/05). Retrieved 2007-06-23
  40. ^ "America's Good Neighbor Teams up with Recording Artist Clay Aiken's Bubel/Aiken Foundation to Promote Inclusive Education" CSR Wire Press Release, 11/02/2005, retrieved April 8, 2006
  41. ^ ""Champions of Change Gala a Huge Success"". bubelaiken.org. 04/15/07. Retrieved 2007-06-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ ""Letter From the Executive Director"". bubelaiken.org. 06/08/07. Retrieved 2007-06-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ US Fund for UNICEF website, Aiken page
  44. ^ "'Idol' surprises Middlesex," by Susan Shultz, The Darien Times, 05/18/06, retrieved July 27, 2006
  45. ^ "Congressional testimony in support of increased UNICEF funding", US Fund for UNICEF website, UNICEF Issues, retrieved April 8, 2006
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