Accolades for Clay from Chicago's Lumino Magazine

Lumino Magazine's Clay article is just too good for us to miss. We hope the folks over at Lumino don't mind us posting it in its entirety:

30. Clay Aiken, 26
Written by NICK POWILLS
© 2006 LUMINO MAGAZINE

Never in a million years would I have thought that the word cool and Clay Aiken would go hand-in-hand, however, after the last year, the cute little southern boy has grown on me, and seemingly, on many other people across the U.S. of A. No longer do people call him gay, but as each album and each TV appearance passes, people seem to become fond of him. But the transformation from hated to loved and dork to stud was not easy.

Aiken was born Clayton Holmes Grissom, before shortening his name to Clay and taking on his Mom's last name. Anyone with the middle name Holmes is cool in my book. Cool step No. 1.

Then, he got an amazing physical makeover. Cool step No. 2. Cool step No. 3 would have been getting a sexier, male voice, but his metrosexual dressing does the job.

Ultimately, Clay made being a dork cool. Millions of fans have jumped on the looney Claymate band wagon, so he must be doing something right. And girls and boys alike love this guy.

I have a feeling Aiken's 15-minutes of fame are starting to dry up, but I am along for the ride. If it's movies, or extreme dodgeball that he tries next, I am ready to support the coolest dork in the world.
© 2006 LUMINO MAGAZINE

Lumino also named last year's Merrillville, IN JBT concert in their Top 16 concerts of 2005 list. In their review of the concert, they said: "As illustrated by the sold-out crowds throughout the tour, people of all ages will-- and do-- enjoy Aiken's energetic yet intimate, empowering and humble performances."

Other top-name artists on the list include Coldplay and Gwen Stefani.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, American Idol, Invisible