The Votes Are In for USA Today's Ultimate Idol and Clay Finishes 3rd

For most of the summer, readers of USA Today's Idol Chatter Blog have been voting for their favorite Idol in their Revisionist Idol contest. USA Today announced the winner of the contest along with the order of the remaining idols. Coming in first and second place were Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Clay's ranking was 3rd.

USA Today says about the ranking system:

Voters were asked to choose their favorite 10 Idols from a list of 15 and rank them in order. First place votes received 10 points, second place got 9, down to 1 point for a 10th place vote.

The top four winners in the rankings also have had the most sales of their CD's. Clay's Measure of a Man has sold about 2.8 million.

USA Today also mentions as a side note to the article that in the revisionist votes, four of the idols who did not win their seasons would have won according to these votes...Bo Bice, Eliott Yamin, Melinda Doolittle, and Clay Aiken.

Tidbits 8/31

• Ashbury Park Press - AI/Elliott Yamin article ...

  Yamin, who has been touring in support of his self-titled debut CD, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry, La Toya London, Kellie Pickler and Bo Bice, who all have parlayed finishes in at least the top six into successful record deals.

• Variety - September sees big album releases... ATDW flopped? For a covers album with little promotion... 500k is a great achievement, if you ask me:

  September 2006 saw a mix of Grammy contenders and discs by name acts with the potential to sell well through the holiday season. Three September releases performed extraordinarily -- Beyonce's "B'Day," Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds" and Fergie's "Dutchess" -- while a pair notably flopped: Janet Jackson "20 Y.O." and Clay Aiken's "Thousand Different Ways."
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Northwest Herald -

  One of “American Idol’s” most beloved contestants, Clay Aiken will perform a Christmas concert on Nov. 29 with a full orchestra, playing up his close rapport with the fans he lovingly calls “claymates.”

• Wichita Eagle/Kansas.com - "Clay Aiken Christmas Show, with Wichita Symphony Orchestra musicians, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26. Tickets $30, $35, $40, on sale Thu."
• Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader mentions:
• 411mania -

  Fox announced plans for a celebrity version of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader for November Sweeps. Attempting to raise money for their favorite charities will be Regis Philbin, Billy Bush, Tony Hawk, Miss America Lauren Nelson, and American Idol alums Clay Aiken and Kelly Pickler.

• Country Hound - "GACTV.com reports that Kellie’s fellow American Idol alum Clay Aiken, talk-show host Regis Philbin, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, Miss America Lauren Nelson and Billie Bush of Access Hollywood will also participate."

• Nothing here today
  

Tidbits 7/20

• Times of India talks to Chris Daughtry...

  Q: You are the fourth most successful American Idol contestant in history, behind Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken and the most successful non-runnerup ...
  
  A: I feel like an idol.

• Delaware Online -

  Former "Idol" Clay Aiken emerged the clear victim and winner after the Kelly Ripa hand-over-mouth debacle, where the "Live With Regis and Kelly" host indirectly accused Aiken of being dirty for some reason.
  
  How dare Ripa accuse a man who covers Richard Marx ("Right Here Waiting"), Bad English ("When I See You Smile") and Mister Mister ("Broken Wings") on his latest, "A Thousand Different Ways," of being anything but squeaky clean?
  

• Philadelphia Daily News - Clay spotted dining at Italian stakehouse Divio's in Philly on Monday night -

  Clay Aiken popped into Davio's (111 S. 17th) for dinner Monday night. The singer, who played the Mann Center last night, went for cheesesteak spring rolls and pasta bolognese and tipped very graciously. The "American Idol" alum also chose Davio's while in town for a concert last fall.
  

• Entertainment Weekly "catches up" with Elliott Yamin ...

  With a publishing deal in hand (from Sony/ATV, who signed him after hearing one song) and guidance from his manager, Jeff Rabhan (who previously worked with Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken), Elliott's team became a ''virtual label,'' with many of the key elements (sales, promotion, press) outsourced to various experts of their field.

• Cedar Valley Courier - this article mentions a recording studio Clay has worked with in the past -

  Hassman and Anders work from a 10,000-square-foot complex, Pulse Studios on Broadway, near Union Square in New York City. They collaborate with a wide range of artists, from urban pop to guitar-driven pop/rock. Their client roster includes some of the biggest names in the music business --- Backstreet Boys, Cheryl Crow, Clay Aiken, Nick Lachey and Celine Dion.

• 411 Mania makes fun of music news this week with an "interview" with Ruben Studdard -

  QnD: Ruben Studdard, I'm glad I caught up with you. Congratulations on your most recent album by the way. I hear it's now sold just barely more than Clay Aiken's latest. Well, more than Aiken's did in its first week, anyway.
  
  Ruben: Uh, yeah. Thanks...
  
  Q'n'D: So, Ruben, with all the hooplah concerning Kelly Clarkson's latest label controversy, it seems that the hot question for former American Idols is this: do you aspire to write your own songs?
  
  Ruben: Listen, if you're not gonna order sir, you're gonna have to come inside. The drive-thru gets busy this time of evening.
  

• New York Post - Idol: The Musical listing ... "A musical about small-town folk who worship pop-star Clay Aiken. 45th Street Theatre, 354 W. 45th St.; (212) 868-4444."
• Concert listings:
• Kane County Chronicle

• Nothing here today
  

Tidbits 7/12

Clay searches are up dramatically over at Topix after the "footgate" incident. The same trend was shown at Yahoo and MSN.

• Clay is #9 this week on the Lycos50, up 2 spots from #11.
  
• A few American Idol related mentions:
  
• Reality TV Calendar - "I am not kidding, if teenage girls could vote for President (by text message), Clay Aiken would be President of the United States. "
  
• Heckler Spray -

  If kids really want to feel like popstars they should practise not writing their own songs and running offstage when the tape they're lip-syncing to skips in the middle of a performance. Anyway, each clothes item will have one of the most popular song titles or lyrics from the show visibly displayed on it. We're not sure if we're more excited about purchasing a pair of goucho pants honouring Clay Aiken's Build Me Up Buttercup, or a shirt with William Hung's picture with the caption She Bangs, She Bangs on it. Yeah, that'll help us express ourselves for sure.
  

• TV Squad - follow up to their post claiming Clay took credit for reviving Jericho -

  If you like hard work, being yelled at, no money, and scalding hot coffee being thrown on you in response to a negative comment I received on my Clay Aiken post, shoot me an email and join the team!

• ... NOW Toronto has another Jericho article -

  If casey-from-mr.-dressup-look- alike Clay Aiken and 50,000 pounds of peanuts can convince a TV network to grant a floundering show a stay of execution, then I feel it's my duty as a TV critic to give it an hour of my time, if only to see what's gotten the American Idol alum's knickers in a knot.

• Richmond.com - Harry Potter article compares H.P. fans to Claymates and Elliot Yamin's fans - "Trust me, if you thought Elliott Yamin and Clay Aiken fans were over-protective, you ain't seen nothing yet."
• Concert listings:
• Tampa Bay Tribune
• Dallas Morning News - "Clay Aiken" awlful? They need to clean their ears out -

  Clay Aiken was awful, the fireworks were great, and half will never come back due to traffic problems. It is a shame the city puts on such fabulous events that conclude with so many in misery.

• Bay Area Reporter (website contains some mild adult content, so we are not directly linking to it) - gay actor Ben Patrick Johnson comments on his charitable UNICEF work with Clay and gives another example of outrageous crap the media throws around with no due cause:
  

  When he had friend Clay Aiken, the former American Idol contestant who's been dogged by speculation about his sexual orientation, videotape a public service announcement about UNICEF to run during his show, Johnson found himself in the center of an online storm of rampant speculation that he was Aiken's lover.
  
  The controversy led Johnson to confront the gossipmongers, writing on one blog that Aiken's private life is his own business and not something he has discussed with the singer.
  
  "From the first I heard of Clay's activism, back in his Idol days, I was interested in his work and his foundation. Last year after I helped build a school in rural Thailand, Clay and I met to talk about how we could harness attention for what we believe in," wrote Johnson. "So ... yes, Clay and I are friends. We share beliefs and are both convinced the world can be made a kinder place. We meet on that level, and it's wonderful. I'm gay, and Clay? His private life is his own business. It's not yours, nor anyone else's. And it's not a part of my dialogue with him. We're busy talking about other things ... things that matter more."
  

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay puts on sizzling shows in Texas, Oklahoma.
• Carolina On My Mind comments on the media frenzy over Clay's "footgate scandal". (Thanks Caro for the link back to us!)
  

Tidbits 5/17

"The way you have our tour on your calendar, it looks like you are doing me on those dates! This is a family show! Watch yourself!!"

-Clay's comment on Quiana's MySpace page... gotta love the man's humor!

• A few Clay mentions in reactions to last night's AI6 shocker which saw Melinda Doolittle eliminated:
• The View - Clay was mentioned on ABC's The View this morning where the discussion was about how Idol runner-ups can find success, like Clay Aiken. Download the cap @ SendSpace.
  
• Tulsa World - " This isn't a eulogy for her career, of course. It's just the beginning -- just ask Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken."
  
• Blogcritics -

  I suppose I can look at this in a positive manner. Melinda won't be forced to sing the inevitably crappy finale song and produce the inevitably bland debut album. She'll still be tied to the soul-sucking Idol machine, but not as much if she had won. And many non-winners have done rather well. I'd say that Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, and Clay Aiken aren't complaining about their lives, and not even Elliott Yamin, who came in third place last year.

• LiveDaily -

  Judge Paula Abdul added, "You already have made it," which could certainly be the case, judging by the success of former "American Idol" viewer-rejects like Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Clay Aiken.

• Blogger News Network -

  There were several contestants that were nearly equal but I saw one that clearly stood out from the rest, namely Melinda Doolittle. I enjoy her music and will place her first album in my library on the shelf next to Clay Aiken’s.

• Sun Herald -

  I won't say America was robbed (like I would've said about Ruben Studdard beating out Kimberly Locke to be in the top two with Clay Aiken or like America was robbed when Elliott Yamin went home instead of Taylor Hicks last season) by sending home Tennessee native Melinda Doolittle, but it was a stunner.

• Eye on Gambling
• AOL News Bloggers with some American Idol related commentary -

  But the more startling changes happen season-to-season. We all remember Clay Aiken emerging from behind at last year's finale, looking like k.d. lang, to greet his desperate doppelganger, Michael Sandecki (aka Clay Faiken), while both sang "Don't Let The Sun Shine Down On Me." Sandecki became crazed. I wasn't sure if he was going to kiss Clay - or try to stab him. It was a terrifying "Single White Idol" moment. Luckily the robotic Ryan efficiently straitjacketed Sandecki and Clay was safe. (While being carted off afterward, Sandecki was heard pining, "I've always depended on the kindness of Seacrest.")
  
  But Clay's transformation has been eclipsed by two others this year: Kellie Pickler's astonishing new jugs. And Elliott Yamin's new teeth, aka The White Cliffs of Dover.

• MLive - uh... American Idol cologne? "Clay Aiken is now asking himself, why did I go through all that nonsense when I could have just worn this fragrance?"
  
• Akron Beacon Journal - Clive Davis preventing Idol alums from achieving success? "Clive Davis, is exactly the kind of bland try-to-please-everybody pablum that has stalled the momentum of a few AI contestants (Clay Aiken's cover album, anyone?). "
  
• Mentions of the summer tour -
• Jewish Exponent - "Other stars of note include jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra; Clay Aiken of "American Idol" fame; Motown star Smokey Robinson; Lyle Lovett; and a 1960s band revue."
• Atlanta Daily World -

  Although the future of Clay Aiken, the American Idol runner-up on was extremely unpredictable, he surprised skeptics and burst onto the music scene with transcendently powerful voice. An unlikely pop star, Aiken has remained steadfast in his desire to remain true to the simple values he learned as a child in Raleigh, North Carolina. His authenticity matched by an unconventional sincerity has earned Aiken millions of fans. With a rigorous 20-city tour on the books for this summer, get ready Clay-Mates, Aiken's show at Classic Chastain with the award-winning ASO is going to be a big one!

• LA City Beat
• The HUB - AI5 contestant Elliott Yamin following in the footsteps of previous runner-ups: "Yamin, who just released a self-titled debut CD and is launching a 25-city headlining tour this week, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Bo Bice, who all have parlayed finishes in at least the top six into successful record deals."
• Hits Daily Double reports there are some changes going on at RCA:

  Richard Sanders has been named head of Global Marketing for Sony BMG Music Entertainment by CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, to whom he'll report while based in New York.
  ...
  As head of global marketing for the company, Sanders will work closely with all of the company's labels and divisions to create and implement fully integrated global marketing and release strategies for the company's artists and projects. He will also oversee the company's global marketing staff and collect frequent flier miles he'll trade in for magazine subscriptions.
  ...
  Sanders was most recently EVP/GM for RCA Records since 2001, helping to build and enhance the careers of such artists as The Dave Matthews Band, Avril Lavigne, Christina Aguilera, Foo Fighters, The Strokes and Kelly Clarkson, as well as the American Idol franchise.
  
  Sanders' roots in the music business include selling T-shirts on the road for Aerosmith and Ted Nugent, and subsequently worked in tour accounting and road management. After leaving the road he founded Loud and Proud Management and his own publishing company, Shohola Music. He will now go back to selling T-shirts on the road, this time for Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken.
  

• Nothing here today
  

Tidbits 3/11

• Richmond Times Dispatch - In an article about Elliott Yamin, it says, "The album is being released on Hickory Records, an imprint that is owned by Sony, but, according to Yamin's manager, Jeff Rabhan, is a virtual label...Hickory Records doesn't exist anywhere except in Elliott Yamin's world," said Rabhan, who, coincidentally, grew up in Richmond and worked with Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson during his time at major entertainment management company The Firm."
• Pittsburgh Tribune Review - 'Idol' curiosity article - "It's interesting to see how the careers of former "American Idol" contestants are playing out. For every success -- Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and especially Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson -- there are many more who have faded into obscurity. Justin Guarini, anyone?"
• Raleigh News and Observer -

  Hopefully, the Triangle's swerve into the bizarre corner of life that L.A. seems to permanently inhabit is a temporary condition -- nothing more than a momentary alignment of circumstance, sordid crime and media attention. At least one expert thinks that's the case (see accompanying interview). But if it's a permanent shift, then you need to adjust accordingly.
  
  Look into earthquake insurance, for instance. And get used to the idea of a local entertainment celebrity ascending to the state's highest office, a la Ah-nuld.
  
  See how this sounds to you: Gov. Clay.

• Thoughts on Clay's blog...
• There Was A Man
• Southern Girl