Tidbits 9/19

• Broadway.com reported this morning that Clay Aiken will return to the scene of his triumphant Broadway debut. They went on to say that his debut in Spamalot earlier this year was met with wild enthusiasm from both his fans and the NY press.

Clay's return to Spamalot is also mentioned in other online publications:

• Playbill.com:

  "American Idol" finalist and new dad Clay Aiken returns to the Broadway company of Monty Python's Spamalot at the Shubert Theatre Sept. 19.
  
  Aiken, who played a Jan. 18-May 4 stint in the Tony-winning musical, reprises his role as Sir Robin through Jan. 4, 2009.

• Theatermania.com - With a picture of Clay at "A Tale of Two Cities", a Theater Mania also says:

  Recording superstar and former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken, who returns tonight to Monty Python's Spamalot as Sir Robin, came out for the show.

  
  
• Recordnet.com - In an article about a comedy competition in San Francisco, there is a Clay mention:

  In this "American Idol" world, for a while it was looking like the runner-ups were becoming more famous than the winners (read: Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken).

• Collegeonline.com - In this article, Mike Super, a magician who won the title of "The Phenomenon" on the NBC show of the same name, makes this statement:

  "Being named the top magician in the world makes me the Kelly Clarkson of magic," Super said. "If I had come in second place, I'd be Clay Aiken."

  
  

Tidbits 7/16

• Access Atlanta crunches American Idol winning single sales numbers -

  My numbers-obsessed friend Ken Barnes at USA Today posted the total sales of the various coronation songs here.. Given that back in 2002-03, most sales were CDs and now they are all downloads means a bit of an oranges to apples situation but Clay Aiken is at the top (and he didn’t even win!), followed by Kelly, Carrie and Ruben. Taylor is fifth but David Cook’s “This is My Time” will probably lapse it in a couple of weeks.
  

• Mullet Wrapper - Taylor Hicks follows idol footsteps to Broadway - "Fantasia Barrino starred in The Color Purple, while Clay Aiken nabbed a recent role in Spamalot."
• The Liberty Papers on why American Idol democracy doesn't exactly work -

  How have the results turned out? Well, not so stellar. Of all the American Idol alumni who are releasing records, the top two sellers are Idol winners, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. The next two highest on the list, Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry, are non-winners. Being from different seasons than the above two, one can’t claim that they were “overshadowed” by the winner’s success. Following these two, in 5th and 6th place, are season 2 and 3 winners, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia. Given the length of time between their seasons and now, one can be sure that their album sales won’t climb much in the future– unlike Daughtry above them, who is still on an upward path in his career. In the case of Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, Aiken– who finished runner-up to Studdard– has sold over 2 million more albums and his follow-up albums have peaked far higher on the charts than Studdard’s non-debut albums.
  

• Washington Post -

  Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac is online every Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET to talk about the latest on the music scene: alternative, country, alt-country, pop, hyphy, harp-rock, reggae, reggaeton, R and B and whatever it is that Clay Aiken does.
  

• Clay's appeal for Somalia:
  • Something That Really Happened -

    Clay Aiken has been blogging about his recent trip to Somalia. So far, he has posted two blogs. The situation is dire. My heart goes out to the children. Here are some excerpts from the blogs, but be sure to click on the links for the blogs to read the rest of what he has to say as well as to see more pictures:

  • FlippinBirds
  • The ConCLAYve -

    UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken is continuing his work to promote support for the children of Somalia, following his recent trip to the northwestern region of Somaliland.
    
    In a blog entitled Somalia: Keep spreading the word, Aiken thanks donors for raising $50,000 for Somalia's children in the last six days, and challenges UNICEF supporters to take action in advocating for children.

  • There Was A Man -

    In light of Clay Aiken's recent trip to Somaliland on behalf of UNICEF, I would like to feature a 2005 documentary of Somaliland produced by BBC journalist Simon Reeve. Somaliland is a breakaway state that no one in the world recognizes as a legitimate land.

    
    

Tidbit 7/8

• New York Magazine - Regis Philbin -

  At a party fêting Kelly Ripa for being on the July cover of Hamptons (and in which she said that Clay Aiken would be "a great father"), Regis Philbin said his favorite bathing suit is a Speedo.

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Jonas Brothers take on their tween fans -

  Now working with producer John Fields (Mandy Moore, Clay Aiken and Pink) and Robert Schwartzman (a member of the Hollywood Coppola clan who fronts the band Rooney), the Jo Bros are making well-crafted power pop that pushes all the right buttons — in the right order.

• Reality TV World - Former Idols perform at San Francisco show -

  The Chronicle said also noted that while former "Idol" contestants Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken remain the most successful non-winning finalists to date, other finalists from the series are taking part in an "Idols" tour taking part this summer.

• Clay nation blogs about the CNN/UNICEF TV Special that aired on Sunday night - Something That Really Happened, The ConCLAYve
• There Was A Man - spotlight montage: Hope: Rising from the Ashes
  

Tidbits 7/5

• Clay visits Somalia....
  • United Press International -

    NAIROBI, Kenya, July 4 (UPI) -- Pop star and UNICEF ambassador Clay Aiken, who just spent five days Somalia, is calling on the world to do what it can to help the African nation's children.
    
    "Unfortunately this is a region that's better known for conflict, insecurity, drought and floods," Aiken, who has been a UNICEF ambassador for four years, said in a statement Thursday. "It's truly remarkable that UNICEF is still able to make a difference in the health, education and overall well-being of Somali children."

• United Press International - Idols still enjoying success past their 15 minutes -

  The Chronicle said also noted that while former "Idol" contestants Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken remain the most successful finalists to date, other finalists from the series are taking part in an "Idols" tour taking part this summer.

• National Post - American and Canadian Idol... is it better to lose?

  Take the advice of AI second season winner, Ruben Studdard (himself overshadowed by his runner-up, Clay Aiken) who warned original Canadian Idol winner Ryan Malcolm to “read the fine print” on his contract.

• Charlotte Observer - former Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), who passed away, mentions Clay in his 2004 memoirs...

  On Edwards’ 2004 vice presidential run
  
  “It’s always nice to see a North Carolinian in the national spotlight - like Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino but watching a nice man with so little experience or familiarity with national and international issues struck me as `overreaching.’.”
  

• ABC News - battle of hot dogs ... Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hotdog-Eating Contest in Coney Island ...

  In one of the most exciting finishes in hot dog eating competition history, defending champion Joey Chestnut today defeated six-time winner Takeru Kobayashi in overtime to keep the Mustard Belt, $20,000 and the world's fastest hot dog eater title.
  
  Both eaters downed 59 hot dogs in the regular 10-minute competition at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hotdog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, forcing a speed-eating, five-dog overtime. There Chestnut, known to some as the "Clay Aiken of Bacon," proved to be the speedier of the two.
  

• OK! Magazine - stars on how the celebrate and celebrated the 4th of July - "Clay Aiken tells me, “I grew up going to the fireworks.”"
• San Francisco Chronicle - AI ...

  Actually, some of the also-rans are doing better than many of the winners. Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard may have just tied the knot, but Season 5's fourth-place finisher, Daughtry, was the hottest concert act of 2007, and Clay Aiken is keeping his career alive while he awaits the birth of his first child and his next hair appointment.
  

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 6/23

• Foxes on Idol - slows sales week for Idols -

  Clay Aiken’s “On My Way Here” moved up one spot to #28 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart this week. Any upward movement is a good thing, considering the song is getting no airplay.

• Malaysia's The Star -

  Daughtry’s self-titled debut album was released in November 2006 and reached the No 1 spot for two non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200. Like fellow American Idol alumni Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken, the bald-headed North Carolina-born singer has found commercial success beyond the reality show.
  

• Just Jared - unprofessional Newsweek interviewer strikes again - "Newsweek also did a (stupid) interview with Vanessa. (It’s the same interviewer who was completely unprofessional with Clay Aiken.)"

• The ConCLAYve - exploring great music with Clay and Pandora radio ... part 2
• Something That Really Happened - new Clay biography at the official fanclub
  

Tidbits 4/14

Broadway World now has its own exclusive "Webisode" RCA is releasing for Clay's new album.

BroadwayWorld brings you this special exclusive webisode featuring American Idol and Broadway Star - Clay Aiken as he talks about Spamalot and recording his latest CD.

Multi-platinum selling pop singer Clay Aiken will release his fourth album, On My Way Here, on RCA Records/19 Entertainment on May 6th, 2008. The collection is the 29-year-old Raleigh, NC, native’s first album of original songs since his 2003 chart-topping, double-platinum debut Measure of a Man.

• Computer World - article about Apple's Time Capsule backup machine mentions Clay! Wow!

  But being able to add a Time Capsule to an existing network like my mom's means she may luck out when her birthday rolls around in May. Right now, she has to plug in a USB drive to back up all the Clay Aiken songs, videos and pictures she's accumulated on her laptop.
  

• What Goes On - Chris Daughtry article - "After his elimination from American Idol in 2006, Daughtry's self-titled debut album sold more than 1 million copies in just 5 weeks. Daughtry is the fourth most successful American Idol contestant in history, behind Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Clay Aiken."
• Pilot Tribune - students experience fine arts in NYC - "The group had three celebrity sightings while in the city. Many of them caught quick glimpses of Donald Trump and Clay Aiken, and Marie Osmond was spotted at one of the Broadway plays"
• antiMusic - Clay's new CD coming out on MusicPass format -

  Clay Aiken's new album, On My Way Here will be released on May 6, 2008 on CD and through digital music stores. In June, the album will be released in a new music format called Musicpass.
  
  You may have already seen these cards at local retailers. They look like gift cards - but instead of giving you credit in a store, they give you access to purchase a digital version of an album, along with some bonus music or video.

• Anew and Afresh - Clay at Planet Hollywood in NYC
  

Tidbits 4/6

• Canyon News - In an article about AI7, specifically about David Cook and David Archuleta, it says:

  Bottom line, both guys have proven themselves enough to have wildly successful stand-alone careers after the show ends, regardless of who wins (the loss didn't hurt Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson or Clay Aiken), and if you ask me to choose between the Davids, I won't. They're both too good to call.

• Birmingham Weekly Mixed Media - The article "On The Boards: Spamalot at the BJCC", says:

  The Playbill program for the show has an awful lot about Clay Aiken, who is performing the role of the Sir Robin in the New York production of Spamalot. Even if you didn’t care about American Idol, it’s hard for a Birminghamian not to wince when she reads “… he has long since outsold that season’s ‘Idol’ winner, the affable, velvet-voiced Ruben Studdard…” Pah! No doubt Aiken’s mother was a hamster and his father smelt of elderberries.

• Posted by clayitonme at The Clayboard - This is a great mention of Clay's success. Bolding is mine:

  loveOMC wrote: Part of a recap from oldmoviegal at CH:
  
  One thing that I wanted to mention in my recap-that-never-was, just because it gave me a little tingle, was this: while I was in New York, I had dinner with an old friend who is a producer at one of the networks (and her partner works on one of the late-night shows that tapes in the Ed Sullivan Theater). She thought it was funny, but in a good way, that I was going to see the same show more than once while I was in town. I defended myself by saying that Clay was soooo cuuute, and by the by, he was getting great reviews for his performance. And she replied, in all seriousness, "Yes, yes, absolutely -- everyone has been talking about it." She didn't say much more, and I didn't press (because we had other stuff to talk about, and at just that moment the waiter brought our veal chops in black truffle sauce) -- but she was very clear on the fact that the media community in New York has noticed Clay's success in Spamalot, and that (as another famous Broadway show would say) attention has been paid.
  
  

  I'm posting this because I wanted to add that the friend who lent me the apartment in NY for my Spamalot stay is well connected in the industry and knows many important people in the community. She also said that the buzz about Clay was very positive! So, this Spamalot gig is going to provide a tremendous boost for Clay's career, and, I daresay, for the kind of critical notices he receives.
  
  Yes, I always do look on the bright side of life. Works for me!

Tidbits 4/4

• Playbill's National Magazine has the "It Takes Two" article about Clay (that was in the Spamalot Playbill) in their March 31 magazine. Clay is also mentioned on the cover as "Idol no More". You should be able to find one at a bookstore in your area.
• Florida Times Union - Josh Gracin giving free concert in Florida tonight -

  Meanwhile, Josh Gracin plays a free concert tonight at The Jacksonville Landing. Gracin came in fourth in Idol's second season (the Ruben Studdard/Clay Aiken year.) Stacey was in the Navy during his Idol days; Gracin was in the Marines. Gracin got out soon afterward, and his self-titled debut album went to No. 2 on the country charts. His second CD, We Weren't Crazy, was released this week.

• Crossville Chronicle - AI transforms "some average American" into stars -

  Maybe it is just nice to see that some average American can become America's next biggest star. Just look at what the vehicle known as American Idol has done for Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few.

• USA Today grades the Idols -

  Clay Aiken
  
  •Evaluation: Ruben Studdard's runner-up enjoyed huge popularity initially with early singles and debut album Measure of a Man, but sales have steadily fallen. While mainstream support has eroded, Claymates remain ferociously loyal, and the geeky popster's odd projects and antics keep him in the headlines (a memoir, Spamalot role, in-flight tiff).
  
  •Needs to improve: In his easy-listening niche, he'll always be second banana to Barry Manilow unless his songs and performances vastly sharpen. A new album arrives May 6
  
  Sales: A+*
  Airplay: C-
  Artistic merit: C-
  Celebrity value: B+
  Overall: B-
  *Grade predates alarming dropoff

• Anew and Afresh - Wednesday wanderings includes updates on new album
  

Tidbits 3/30

• About.com - Clay Aiken ready to release new album -

  With the upcoming album On My Way Here, due in stores May 6, 2008, Clay Aiken fans will get what they've been looking for a long time, an album of original material. His last album, A Thousand Different Ways, disappointed many fans due to the fact it was loaded with covers of popular love songs. The albums sales were lackluster, and, with the assistance of producer Mark "Kipper" Eldridge, Aiken has decided to head in a different direction this time out.
  
  On his official web site, Clay Aiken discusses how a song from OneRepublic's leader Ryan Tedder set the tone for his new album. The song deals with the shaping of our adult lives by lessons we learn growing up. "“I thought if we could find songs along those lines, that deal with my life over the past five years and what I’ve learned from my experiences, it would be a great concept for an album." Check out the link below at AOL Music where Clay discusses working with his producer.
  

• Amazon.com - The listing of tracks for On My Way Here are now up at amazon.com. No snippets yet.
  
  
  
  
• For those who are inclined to vote, here are a few polls for you to vote in:
  
  
  • Votenumber1.com - Vote here for your favorite past American Idol. The top four vote-getters are now up at their site. Here are the poll results as of Sunday afternoon:
    
    Chris Daughtry - 27.69%
    Clay Aiken - 25.11%
    Carry Underwood - 24.07%
    Kelly Clarkston - 23.13%
    
    Note that though Clay is in 2nd place, behind Chris by just over 2%, he is listed as #4 on the voting list. You can vote once per day per computer. Only about 4.5% separates all 4 idols.
    
    
  • American Idol Music.com - "Whose your fav?" asks this poll at American Idol Music. Note that you have to scroll down inside the poll box to the last idol, who is Clay. He does not show on the screen until you poll down. Right now he has a huge lead with about 67% of the vote. Still a little extra cushion doesn't hurt, so get those votes in!
    
• Lycos 50 - Don't forget to search for Clay at Lycos 50. Clay dropped from #3 to #6 this past week. Let's keep searching and move him back up!
• Louisville Courier Journal - not really sure where this comes from ... but, "Will someone please finish one of these Joplin movies before rumors start flying that Clay Aiken and/or Bucky Covington will be playing the troubled legend?"

• The ConCLAYve asks why it took 5 whole years for RCA to get a new original album out from Clay -

  Clay Aiken is releasing a highly anticipated album of original material on May 6th. The album called “On My Way Here” is produced by Grammy award winner, Kipper who is best known for his work with Sting and Chris Botti. The core fandom and likely even the casual fans who first met Clay on American Idol five years ago have been waiting for an album like this for a long time. It is an album that reflects Clay and his journey. It is an album where he had more control over song choice and sound. So, why did it take so long to get this album? Well, to understand that, first let me tell you a story.

Tidbits 3/18

• NYC Official City Guide:

  You might also want to make note of two newsworthy Broadway debuts: Clay Aiken, currently starting as Sir Robin in Spamalot, and Mario Lopez, who joins the cast of A Chorus Line in the role of Zach on April 15th.

• Seattlepi.com: In a blog called Ear Candy with Travis Hay is an article called "30 things you likely don't know about Ear Candy". Clay is mentioned as follows:

  15. Albums in my record collection I won't ever own up to owning: Ethel Merman's disco album, Ashleee Simpson's "Autobiography" and Clay Aiken's "Measure of a Man."

• The Buffalo News Entertainment - In "Idol Thoughts: Handicapping The Finalists", Clay has a couple of mentions:

  Season One’s Kelly Clarkson and Season Four’s Carrie Underwood, arguably the best “Idol” singers so far, made it big, and the hotly contested Ruben Studdard- Clay Aiken finals raised “Idol” buzz to new heights....And also-rans have done well. Aiken plays Sir Robin in “Spamalot” on Broadway, Jennifer Hudson collected a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in “Dreamgirls,” and Chris Daughtry’s first album was the fastest-selling debut rock album ever.

Tidbits 2/12

• The Daily Reflector - Idol ....

  Other "Idol" participants from the Tar Heel State who gained exposure on the televised singing competition and now have recording contracts are Grammy-nominated rocker Chris Daughtry of McLeansville, country cutie Kellie Pickler of Albemarle, Broadway-bound Clay Aiken of Raleigh and country singer Bucky Covington of Rockingham.

• 2Snaps.tv - Chris Daughtry comments on American Idol 7 - "Unlike Clay Aiken, who no longer watches the show, Chris sees potential in a few of this season's contestants."
• AZ Central - lousy love songs?

  Clay Aiken, Invisible
  The lyrics of this tune are creepy enough - "If I was invisible/Then I could just watch you in your room." But then imagine them performed by the strangely sexless Clay Aiken, and the whole thing becomes rather icky.
  

• The Hook - Chris Daughtry brings his own writing to his music -

  Daughtry has writing credits on almost every track, a feat unprecedented in the meticulously manufactured world of post-Idol pop. If the names Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, and Kelly Clarkson ring any bells, these artists can thank American Idol, this generation's version of Star Search. Yet Daughtry is unique among them.

• The ConCLAYve - Clay talks Spamalot, and much more with Broadway.com -

  Finally - a nice long interview with Clay Aiken about Spamalot that's more than sound bites. Here's some tidbits to give you a feeling for this nice, long piece - but read it in full on Broadway.com.

Tidbits 1/31

• Great Clay mention on Ellen today - From the CB's maidenfreckledpaleface -

  Haven't seen this anywhere on here ----- I'm not usually home to see Ellen but yesterday she did a game with 2 audience members---they had to guess different "grammy nominated" artists from her descriptions of them.
  
  One player had to guess Chris Daughtery --- Ellen's clue was something like "he didn't win American Idol, but he's done really well any way..."
  and the player automatically blurted out "Clay Aiken" (pretty enthusiastically I might add) She never did get the correct answer -- I think it was on the tip of her tongue after a couple more clues, but we all know what happens once you've thought of Clay, the train just sort of derails!!!!
  

• Los Angeles Times comments on American Idol -

  “Every season’s first episode brings a lurch to the stomach. We see these 24 unformed, rough talents and the question looms heavy in the ether: is there a Kelly Clarkson among this crowd? Can the next Clay Aiken be hanging over that railing before us?

• Buddy TV - American Idol top 24 partially leaked -

  Carly Smithson (formerly Carly Hennesy): This is the tattooed Irish lady. She tried out a couple of seasons ago, but was expelled due to visa issues. She recorded an album for RCA that sold very poorly in the U.S. One of the songwriters on her album has also written songs for Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken.

• Bluff County Newspapers - post-Christmas shopping spree! "The book has made me laugh out loud as Kathy meets her Clay Aiken-obsessed roommate and relives the Friday night keg parties. "
• Burlington Free Press - random mention ... sports ... "And your coach, Bill "Sacks, Lies and Videotape" Belichick, makes Tom Coughlin look like Clay Aiken."
  
• MTV - Clay tired of questions about his personal life -

  Former "American Idol" finalist Clay Aiken, who has faced questions about his sexuality since entering the spotlight more than four years ago, recently told New York magazine that not only is he sick of answering questions about his preferences, he's tired of thinking about something that he simply doesn't have time for.

• Buddy TV - American Idol winners fade quickly, except Kelly, Carrie, Chris and Clay -

  The judges have been doing this for six-plus years now, and aside from the money, they have no real reason to get out of bed. Look at the track record: Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are the only two winners with any sort of legitimate career. Losers Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry are the next closest.

• Nothing here today
  

Tidbits 1/12

• Carolina Newswire - In an article entitled, Clay Aiken Premiers His New Smile On Broadway, Clay's dentist tells a little about giving Clay his "new smile".

  Clay contacted me right after he landed a booking on the Jimmy Kimmel show,” said Dr. Stanley. “It was only five days before his appearance and he really wanted a new smile before the show.”

  And Clay says:

  “It was a great experience. Dr. Stanley fit me in at the very last-minute and provided me with a wonderful new smile,” said Clay. “It was really more of a spa experience than a dental appointment. Although I live in Raleigh, I know that Dr. Stanley has a program for out-of-town patients who want to come in for a long weekend and go home with a beautiful new smile.”

• Florida Sun Sentinel - American Idol article ...

  Idol is so influential, winning isn't essential. Chris Daughtry, who finished fourth behind Hicks, sold 2.5 million copies of his self-titled album in 2007. Only Josh Groban, the High School Musical 2 soundtrack, the Eagles and Alicia Keys had greater sales.
  
  Then there's Clay Aiken and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.

• MTV.ca - music history:

  In 2004...American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken donated 20-thousand dollars to his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and performed during halftime at a men's basketball game there.

• Actress Archives - Katharine McPhee leaves RCA Records:

  But it's not like AI has lost all of its star-making luster. Sony-BMG still has nine contenders in its stables, including Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Blake Lewis, Fantasia, Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken, and Kelly Clarkson.

• New York Daily News - Katharine McPhee ....

  The BMG group still counts eight "AI" contenders on its roster, including Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry (both of whom delivered top 10 albums in 2007), Blake Lewis (with one album), Fantasia (with three), Jordin Sparks (working on her second), and Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson (both working on their fourth albums).

• And more on Katharine McPhee being dropped by RCA -
• The Celebrity Cafe | The Celebrity Cafe alternate article - "The NY Daily News reports other American Idol members, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Fantasia, Blake Lewis, Clay Aiken, and Kelly Clarkson, will all still continue on BMG's "major leagues" roster."
• FOX News -

  According to the Daily News, the BMG group still counts eight "Idols" on its roster, including Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry (both of whom delivered top 10 albums in 2007), Blake Lewis (with one album), Fantasia (with three), Jordin Sparks (working on her second) and Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson (both working on their fourth albums).
  

• San Antonio Express News - AI returns!

  Consider the cream of the crop from previous seasons:
  
  "Kelly Clarkson turned into a great superstar; Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, amazing; Fantasia, amazing; Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice, amazing."

• USA Today - looking back at 6 seasons of American Idol:

  But by now, Idol has a history and a heritage. Clay and Ruben, Kelly and Carrie, Taylor and Fantasia, even Sanjaya need no introduction, nor even a last name.
  
  Best season: Simon: Season 1, 2 (because of the Clay-Ruben competition)
  
  Best performance by a finalist:
  Paula: Fantasia, Summertime; Carrie Underwood, Alone by Heart; Blake Lewis, beatboxing to Bon Jovi's You Give Love a Bad Name; Clay Aiken, Bridge Over Troubled Water
  
  Worst performance by a finalist:
  Paula: Clay Aiken, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting; LaKisha Jones, Stayin' Alive.
  
  Contestant with best personality:
  Randy: Kelly, Fantasia, Carrie, Clay and Ruben
  

• Press release via Earth Times - survey seeks to find out why southerners perform so well on "American Idol" -

  -- Season 2 - Winner, Ruben Studdard, from Birmingham, Ala., beat Clay Aiken from Raleigh, N.C. Five of the other 12 finalists were from Southern states. (Total Southerners in final 12:7).

• USA Today idol article quotes a Variety editor... he is entitled to his opinion, even though we complete disagree -

  He says the competition should steer clear of quirky singers such as Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken, who hasn't been able to match the sales of his multiplatinum first album. "Because of Clay Aiken they've always said don't judge a book by its cover. But they've wound up with singers really locked into a single style who don't have the varied skills they're looking for" in the record business.
  

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 1/10

• Reality TV World - Katharine McPhee dropped by RCA Records, following Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard who were also dropped by Sony BMG recently -

  Given all the recent Idol activity, EW reported it "double-checked" and confirmed that Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken and third-season champ Fantasia Barrino's deals are still intact with an RCA Music Group representative.
  

• Glendale Star - Clay mention in sports article -

  Nevertheless, it will be nice to see rabid football fans like Clay Aiken and Amarosa from “The Apprentice” in attendance, while someone who actually writes about the local NFL team sits on his couch. Really, I’m not bitter.
  

• The State News - American Idol in need of "makeover" -

  It’s that time of year again. The new season of the hit Fox reality show “American Idol” is set to debut Jan. 15.
  
  The reality powerhouse that spawned the careers of contestants like Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood will begin its seventh season of the popular search for the next best thing in pop music.
  
  Am I the only one that’s ready for a change?
  
  It became taboo that contestants like Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry didn’t even need to win to gain fan following and record deals — while winners like Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks grappled to find that hit song. Ironically, both are no longer on J Records, the label that usually houses the new Idol winners.

• Neighborhood Star -

  In addition to his work with a host of chamber and philharmonic orchestras, Johnston has shared the stage with pop performers such as the Dixie Chicks, Manhattan Transfer, Clay Aiken and Smokey Robinson.
  

• College Times -

  "The straw that broke the camel's back was the 'String Quartet Tribute to Clay Aiken,'" Gorfain said. "That was the moment where I just said 'You know what? We don't want to be associated with this anymore.'

• 23/6 - politics article ... "Trust me. Crying is not weakness. We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world several times over. Even Clay Aiken would look tough if his finger had access to The Button."
• Florida Sun Sentinel via New York Times - reality TV show "transformations" -

  In all reality contests there will be hammy flourishes that make viewers snicker, like the pouty "model mouth" mocked by Ben Stiller in Zoolander and Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback. On the nicer side, there's always a chance for a chrysalis moment, a Clay Aiken-esque transformation.

• Nothing here today
  

Tidbits 12/7

• We have a lot of Christmas tour mentions, as we near the half-way point for Clay's 4th holiday tour:
• CT The Day -
  

  “Idol” worlds are colliding.
  
  Two guys who didn't win “American Idol” but who went onto huge music careers are both in concert here ... on the same night.
  
  But Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry won't be sharing a stage. Which is a shame, because who wouldn't want to enjoy the absurdity of Daughtry doing some serious vocal shredding on Aiken's “Invisible” or Aiken turning, well, any of Daughtry's rockers into odes to easy listening.
  
  So, they will remain separate but equal.
  
  Aiken will be crooning his Christmas cheer at a holiday concert at Mohegan Sun Arena. Daughtry will be doing his straight-ahead rock thing at Foxwoods' Fox Theatre.
  

• Akron Beacon Journal -

  Clay Aiken Christmas — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, State Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. With a 45-piece orchestra. $35-$75. http://www.tickets.com or 800-766-6048.
  

• New York Post -

  JOHN MELLENCAMP sings his hits tonight at 7:30 in the Mohegan Sun's Arena. Tickets: $42-$57. BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY tears up the Wolf Den at 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Free. CLAY AIKEN plays Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Arena. Tickets: $35. CARNIE and WENDY WILSON play Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Cabaret theatre. Tickets: $40; mohegansun.com, (888) 226-7711.- Melissa Jane Kronfeld

• New Jersey Express Times -

  It's Christmas in the Heartland with Clay Aiken and the Chelsea Symphony at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton. Tickets: $70, $65. Information: 610-252-3132.

• Times Herald Record - "Clay Aiken brings "Christmas in the Heartland" to the Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave. in Albany, at 7:30 tonight. Tickets are $39.50-$49.50 at Ticketmaster."
  
• Film.com - AI article ...

  That's why I think performers who sing and play an instrument are better than those who just sing.
  
  Even some past Idol performers prove my point. Can you doubt the talent of Daughtry, who just cleaned up at the American Music Awards? Compare his post-Idol career to, say, Justin Guarini or Clay Aiken.
  
  Look... you can make anyone's voice sound good in a music studio. Just listen to Blake Lewis' latest CD if you doubt that. But there's no faking playing a guitar and singing live to a packed arena.
  

• SheKnows.com - completely unrelated to Clay, except a footer about the article's writer: "Joel D Amos is a San Diego-based writer, and also one of the entertainment editors here at SheKnows. He has interviewed numerous celebrities, including The Fray, Clay Aiken, Timbaland, Robin Thicke and David Arquette."

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 12/6

• Massachusetts Republican - Clay prepares for another Christmas show -

  When Clay Aiken's record company proposed the idea of recording a Christmas album, he was hesitant at first.
  
  "My first response was that I would love to do one, but not just yet," said Aiken, who is bringing his Christmas in the Heartland tour to the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday.
  
  "I had just released my first album and thought we should give it a year, with another album in between," said the popular "American Idol" finalist.
  
  But as powerful record companies often do, they prevailed.
  
  "They were very adamant in feeling that this was the time to do it, and it did work out well," said the singer, whose voice thrilled millions of Americans who watched the performer rise to the top on year two of "American Idol."
  
  And, so, on Nov. 16, 2004, RCA Records released Aiken's "Merry Christmas With Love," which set a record for fastest-selling holiday album in the Soundscan era. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and tied Celine Dion's record for the highest debut by a holiday album in the history of Billboard magazine. The album went on to sell more than 1 million copies in six weeks and was the best-selling holiday album of 2004.

• Broadcasting & Cable - not sure where they got the idea Clay has won a Golden Globe, in this article about Grammy nominations which came out today -

  The list of Idol alumni who have turned their music into gold continues to grow, and it includes multiple Grammy winners Kelly Clarkson and Underwood, Oscar and Golden Globes winner Jennifer Hudson and Clay Aiken.
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Hartford Courant -

  Two former "American Idol" contestants perform at Connecticut casinos this Sunday in 7 p.m. shows: Clay Aiken at Mohegan Sun and Chris Daughtry at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
  
  Aiken performs "Christmas in the Heartland," a show featuring classic holiday favorites and selections from his album, "Merry Christmas With Love" as a part of his fourth annual Christmas tour. The show is at the Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or www.mohegansun.com.

• Philadelphia Inquirer -

  State Theatre Center For The Arts
  453 Northampton St., Easton; 610-252-3132. www.statetheatre.org. Jimmy Sturr Holiday Spectacular. $31-$38. 12/8 3 pm. Clay Aiken Christmas Show. $65-$100. 12/12 8 pm.

• Philiadelphia Inquirer - another article ...

  Acts from the Blind Boys of Alabama to Clay Aiken will put their own spin on the music of the season in coming weeks, but it's doubtful any of them will match the rowdiness of Marah's annual TLA Christmas show, which takes place tomorrow. Tidings of joy might not seem to jibe with the bar-band grit of the typical Marah song, but guitarist Serge Bielanko says he and his brother, Dave, "have been Christmas freaks since we were little kids."
  

• Albany Times Union has a rehashed version of the Houston Chronicle interview from this summer.

  "I'm never going to be, and I'm fine with that. We all must embrace our inner dork," he said in July.
  
  Aiken, who brings his Christmas show Friday to Palace Theatre, has still managed a successful post-"American Idol" career as the soundtrack of choice for enthusiastic grandmothers.
  
  "People always come up to me and say, 'My grandmother's your biggest fan,' " said Aiken, who just turned 29. "There's a misconception among these ladies that I'm cool and hip and now. And they think that by liking me, it makes them cool and hip and now.

• Fairfield University Mirror - "American Idol Clay Aiken will be at Mohegan Sun on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35."
  
• Ohio.com - Idol show outshines its stars - Jordin Sparks ...
  

  It's all very professional and solidly constructed, and Sparks' voice sounds fine throughout, but just as Clay Aiken's Measure of A Man seemed devoid of any actual Clay-ness, Jordin Sparks could have been made any of a 1,000 decent singers.

• Boston College - BC Heights - review of Blake Lewis' debut CD... not sure what they mean by "untouched on the shelves" when Clay's album sales are in excess of 4.5 million.
  

  Blake lets the music come naturally, skillfully utilizing contemporary elements to showcase his best assets. Despite these two tracks, Audio Day Dream will probably be left dusty and untouched on the shelves of Best Buy, next to those of predecessors Justin Guarini and Clay Aiken.

• NOW Toronto - random mention in review of Peter Pan show.
• Georgetown Independent - another not very good mention: "After a few generically up-tempo offerings to get your toes tapping, the album vomits up an atrocity of a ballad entitled "Top of the Hill" that makes Clay Aiken's most saccharine shite seem urbane by comparison. "

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 12/2

Clay is included in a Spamalot E-Card you can send from Spamlot's website... cute!

• BroadwaySpace.com - In the forum section, a thread was started with this question, "I heard Clay Aiken was joining the cast of Spamalot! What's your reaction in hearing this news?" Go to this site and click "Share". There is a 12-page thread about Clay being in Spamalot. Everything I've read seems positive.
• Asbury Park Press - Chris Daughtry article -

  The legendary Davis, the head of RCA Records, has had huge success in signing other "Idol" winners, including Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Burrino. Several months after that defining moment on "Idol" in May 2006, both Daughtry and Davis have come out smelling like the proverbial rose. Daughtry's self-titled first CD was released in November 2006 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart; by mid-December 2006, it was certified platinum for 1 million in sales.

• Christmas tour mentions:
• HULIQ.com -

  Pop superstars Clay Aiken and Kathy Mattea perform with Orchestra; Severinsen frontman Tony Scodwell joins Orchestra for Holiday Pops! concerts; Boston Brass makes Orchestra Hall debut.

• Carolina On My Mind - Michigan Clay fans donate 1200 books to local libraries, schools as a birthday present for Clay
• ClayKat - Clay nation opens their wallets and hearts in this season of giving -

  It's an endless circle of giving in the Clay nation: Clay has given - and continues to give - so much to us, his fans. He gives to the community (through, among other things, the Bubel-Aiken Foundation) and to the world (through UNICEF and of course, his voice). He makes us want to be better people, so we give to our communities, to him, to each other - among other things, through initiatives such as the two described above. What can be better than that? In my opinion, life does not get any better than in moments such as those, in love and solidarity and tribute given in such beautiful ways.
  
  What a tremendous way to start off the Christmas season!
  

• Anew and Afresh - wishing Clay a happy birthday
• All That Is Clay Aiken - Clay sings "Welcome To Our World", below:
  

Tidbits 11/1

A new billboard with Clay 's photo is gracing the Las Vegas skyline tonight, as the countdown to the taping of NBC's Holiday Celebrations on Ice hits the home stretch. The special TV Christmas special, with Clay being the exclusive music guest, will be taped at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday November 6. NBC will air the special on Christmas day.

• Access Hollywood had a 2 second blurb about Clay on "5th Grader" during today's show. Cap is available at SendSpace courtesy gerwhisp.
  
• Reality TV World - Carrie Underwood posts impressive first week sales, but fails to surpass Clay's 613K:

  Due to "Carnival Ride's" first-week success, Underwood became the first former Idol champ to post a debut sales week of more than 500,000 copies and was also the first to have his or her second album outsell their debut, according to Daily Variety. (American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken, remains Idol's all-time debut week sales champ. "Measure of a Man," his 2003 debut album, sold 613,000 copies in its first week of release.)
  

• Niagara Gazette - Clay mention in Chris Daughtry article -
  

  Davis is, of course, is the head of RCA Records and one of music’s legendary record executives. He’s had huge success in signing other “Idol” winners, including Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Burrino. He certainly must have recognized that the groundswell of support for Daughtry — and the publicity that surrounded his departure from the “Idol” competition — made the singer a hot commodity.
  

• Clay joins Spamalot:
• Broadway World -

  Break a leg to Clay Aiken as he prepares to join the Broadway company of Spamalot. Actually, I hear that putting new actors into Spamalot is quite easy. They just push them on stage and tell them to just repeat everything the audience yells out.
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
  
• Poughkeepsie Journal - They call Clay a heartthrob!! Also here is info about purchasing tickets:

  American Idol heartthrob Clay Aiken will perform at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie Dec. 8, with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic.
  
  Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday and cost $56.50 for gold circle seats and $47 and $41 for reserved seats. Tickets can be purchased at the Civic Center box office, 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie; and Ticketmaster, which can be reached at 845-454-3388 and www.ticketmaster.com.

• Akron Beacon Journal -

  Also on the holiday concert trail is Clay Aiken, whose 2004 holiday album was given the more creative title Merry Christmas With Love. The American Idol runner-up (as he apparently will be forever known, even as we collectively forget the guy to whom he lost) will be playing at Cleveland's Playhouse Square on Dec. 17, backed by a 45-piece orchestra.

• Citizen's Voice
  
• FemmeFan.com - fiddler shared the stage with Clay -

  Fiddle player Jennifer Spingola has been trained in classical music on both violin and piano. She tours with Dee Snider of Twister Sister fame on his Van Helsing's Curse production. She has shared the stage with legendary guitarist Steve Vai and former American Idols Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson.

• Southern Girl - Clay on "5th Grader"
  

Tidbits 10/11

• Dallas Morning News - An article entitled, We can learn a lot from other cultures, written by Layo Obamehinti, says:

  And Jenna Bush isn't the only one who's working with UNICEF. We have seen a rise of celebrities like Alicia Keys, Alyssa Milano, Katie Couric and Clay Aiken; organizations, individuals; and churches making impacts to help and support people in third-world countries.

• According to Debya at The Clayboard, Clay's MySpace has been updated. She says:

  Today, new comments started appearing and his Christmas tour schedule has been added! The format for the comments has changed a bit.

• South Carolina's The State - In an article about Chris Daughtry, it says:

  Davis, head of RCA Records, has had huge success in signing other “Idol” contestants, including Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino.

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Standard Speaker

• Carolina On My Mind takes a look back at 2003 - the year of Clay Aiken -

  The third segment of American Idol 2 Rewind featuring the Atlanta Auditions doesn't air until this weekend, but reminiscing about the first time Clay Aiken sang for the show's panel of judges has been in high gear on message boards all week.
  

Tidbits 10/5

• Entertainment Tonight - their story about Clay's appearance at Jenna Bush's book launch earlier this week is the most emailed story today ... who says that Clay mania has died down?
  
• ESPN - nice Clay reference in sports article -

  Neither Clay Aiken nor Chris Daughtry won "American Idol," and yet I'd say platinum records are pretty good spoils. If I could score that kind of spoilage by finishing second (or fifth) in my main league, I'd be rich by now.
  

• Idol Stalker - Its Clay Aiken Day again on Idolstalker.com and some of the fans have sent in YouTube videos of Clay. One video is called Let's Do The Time Warp and the other, Footloose. Also sent in was Clay's Entertainment Tonight interview and a picture of Clay.
• TUSKmag.com - Chris Daughtry joins American Idol elite -

  As leader of the band that bears his name, he cut a debut album late last year that’s hit No. 1 for two weeks on Billboard, joining fellow “Idol" alumnae Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken -- all of them either winners or first runners-up -- in that pantheon.

• Salt Lake Deseret News on "scary ... extreme fans" -

  A few years ago, I reviewed the Kelly Clarkson/Clay Aiken concert in what used to be the Delta Center (now the EnergySolutions Arena). I wrote that Clay put on a better show than Kelly.
  
  Oh, man, did that open the floodgates. Kelly Clarkson fans bombarded me with e-mails. Even fans who didn't attend the show took me to task. "I've seen her before and know you are wrong" is an example of the e-mails I received.

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Wichita Eagle
• Times Herald-Record
• Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
• Lowell Sun - former AI2 contestant headlines "Circus 2.0" show -

  The pert, petite headliner, was one of the top 30 contestants in American Idol's second season that produced winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken.
  

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay ready to make big appearance on "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?"
• Clayigraphy - Clay Aiken Christmas tour brings out Christmas memories -

  So Clay has announced his latest contest! And we should all write down our favorite holiday memories in 20 sentences or less and then submit them. The winners will then be invited to present their special and unique memories on stage during his upcoming Holiday tour.