'No telling where Clay Aiken will pop up next' - Winston-Salem Journal

The North Carolina Winston Salem Journal published this article on the success of North Carolina's idols Thursday (it was only found by a CB member today) in its Nightlife section.

American Idol winners, runners-up enjoy success after the show
Thursday, September 29, 2005
By Janice Gaston
Journal Reporter

There's just no telling where Clay Aiken, the runner-up in American Idol's second season, is going to pop up next.

One day, he's in New York, appearing on All My Children as one of a host of celebrities wishing diva Erica Kane (actress Susan Lucci) success on her fictional talk show, New Beginnings.

A few days later, he's in Los Angeles at the Emmys, all gussied up in a tuxedo and gushing over stars on the red carpet as a correspondent for The Insider, an entertainment show.

Aiken, who is an ambassador for UNICEF, did his bit for charity by donating his Emmy-night duds to Clothes Off Our Backs, a Hollywood organization that auctions off clothes worn by celebrities and donates the proceeds to various charities. Bidding will go on through Tuesday, but as of press time, the bidding for anything that touched Aiken far outpaced the money bid for items offered by other stars.

The high bid on Aiken's tuxedo stood at $16,000, compared to the $650 offered for the tuxedos worn by Matthew Fox of Lost and $550 for the tux of James Denton of Desperate Housewives. Aiken's cufflinks were on the block for $3,700, compared to the $130 offered for Jimmy Smits' cufflinks. Someone had bid $9,000 for Aiken's shoes.

Bidders had offered a $110 each for shoes worn by William Shatner, who won an Emmy for his role in Boston Legal, and by Brad Whitford of The West Wing.

Claymates (as Aiken's devoted fans are known) must have voted en masse when TV Guide and Bravo conducted a poll to name the most-loved star of a reality show. He edged out Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first season of American Idol, for the title.

Aiken has also recently made news with his decision to turn his back on Los Angeles for the familiar confines of Raleigh. He's asking $2.5 million for his swanky digs. Word is that Aiken will be building a new place at an "undisclosed location" in the Raleigh area.

Aiken will also perform in Charlotte Dec. 21.

High Point's Fantasia Barrino - those of us back home still like to think of Fantasia as having a last name - won the 2004 version of American Idol. She will be touring with Kayne West, beginning Oct. 11. Barrino has sold l.6 million copies of her first album, Free Yourself, and has racked up an impressive series of award nominations, including two American Music Awards - Favorite Female Artist (Soul/Rhythm & Blues) and Favorite Album (Soul/Rhythm & Blues). The awards will be handed out Nov. 22 in Los Angeles.

Barrino tells of her struggles and triumphs in Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, a memoir that is due in stores Friday. She also sings on a new tribute album to the late Luther Vandross.

R.J. Helton, who lived for two years in Winston-Salem, finished fifth on American Idol's first season. Last year, he released Real Life, an R&B/pop album. Helton wrote many of the album's songs, which tell stories from his life and explore such issues as his childhood and his relationships.