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 11/30

• It's Clay's birthday ... mentions in the press:
• O.C. Register - "Clay Aiken, 29, tops today's list of celebrity birthdays"
  
• USA Today
  
• Associated Press wire story - "Singer Clay Aiken is 29." ... this story will show up everywhere.
  
• Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - a variation of the AP wire story
• Contra Costa Times
• Dallas Morning News
• Louisville Courier Journal
• StarPulse - "American Idol winner Clay Aiken (1978)"
• Columbus Dispatch
• Central Utah Daily Herald
• PennLive.com
• Christmas tour mentions:
• Philly Burbs -

  Clay Aiken State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, (732) 246-7469; www.statetheatrenj.org. 8 p.m. Thursday. Clay Aiken Christmas with the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra. $65 and $100.

• Post Tribune - Merrillville concert -

  The Star also will welcome Clay Aiken, who gained fame as a runner-up on "American Idol." Aiken sings festive fare at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Tickets are $45; 791-1234.

• Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - "Clay Aiken Christmas Show: Dec. 22; Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville; $45; 219-791-1234 or 312-559-1212."
  
• University of Nebraska Gateway -
  

  Dec. 21 - American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken performs live in concert for "Christmas in the Heartland" at the Orpheum Theater. The show begins at 8 p.m. For more information, visit omahaperformingarts.org.

• Citizens Voice -

  After a sold-out performance last year, “American Idol” star Clay Aiken returns to the F.M. Kirby Center for a 7 p.m. show Dec. 4. Backed by a full orchestra, Aiken is expected to punctuate the season with a holiday concert filled with audience favorites. There is no opening act and tickets are $40, $55 and $65.

• Times Herald Record -

  "Clay Aiken Christmas," Dec. 7, Palace Theatre, Albany. Also: Dec. 8, 8 p.m., Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, $41-$56.50.

• Rocky Mountain News - article mentions the new "American Idol" themed Chicken Soup book:

  With new editions of the ubiquitous Chicken Soup for the Soul books coming out all the time - including Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul, the Preteen's Soul, even the Dog Lover's Soul - this Soup seems to be getting awfully thin, indeed. The newest gruel is titled Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul. (Yep, you read that right.)
  
  It features goopy stories from Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and assorted other crooners - all of which makes us yearn for a salty Simon Cowell. Oh yeah, and a strict diet of bread and water.

• Chicago Sun Times - article about BET's "Sunday Best", "a gospel version of 'American Idol'" -

  "She used to kid me that I was kind of like her Clay Aiken," Addison says with another laugh. "Whenever she did something, I was always on the same bill."

• MTV.com on Jordin Sparks' disappointing first week CD sales -

  It could also be that, as in past years, perhaps the winner is not the person who wears the crown at the end of the show, but someone standing in the shadows. That was certainly the case with now-faded runner-up Clay Aiken and 2006 fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry, who proved that winning isn't everything with the multiplatinum sales of the debut album from his band, Daughtry.
  

• Taking A Moment's Jemock on her St. Louis concert adventure ... being invited to share her Christmas story:

  I got notification that my story would be read on Monday, after I had left home for St. Louis. I didn’t even tell my travel buddies lyricAKP and farouche until we all arrived in St. Louis, because I had to be at the venue by 4:45 on Tuesday, and they’re kinda nosy and would have been all up in my koolaid about where I was going all dressed in black and whatnot. But I threatened them with some really bad fanfic if they told anybody, so they behaved.
  
  Anyhoo. I got to the Fox box office at the allotted time, and met up with two other ladies, HeyButterfly from the OFC and another nice lady from St. Louis (I don’t know her screen name). In a short while, Jamie came around to get us. She is the cutest thing I have ever seen, and has the southernest accent I’ve ever heard, which is saying something, what with me sounding like Gomer Pyle and all. She checked our email printouts and ID’s, and looked at mine and said “Hay! Yew’re tha go-go bewts!” Ha!
  

• There Was A Man - More joyful noise with Clay ... Clay's Christmas tour returns!

Tidbits 11/29

• Friday birthdays - Clay turns 29 tomorrow!
• Dallas News
• Winston Salem Journal - Relish Now
  
• USA Today Idol Chatter - weak start for Jordin Spark's debut CD, Clay continues to be first week sales champ -

  Jordin's 119,000 first-week sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan, which landed her at No. 10 on the Billboard album chart, are not only the lowest for an Idol winner, but total less than half of the previous low.
  
  Clay is the all-time first-week sales champ for an Idol debut album with 613,000 for Measure of a Man.

• Monster & Critics - American Idol loosing its "spark" -

  Runner ups Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry proved winning isn't everything - they all have reached levels of great success.
  
  Sparks has a stronger digital presence that is cannibalizing her album sales, this demonstrates how much technology has changed the music world since Kelly Clarkson began.

• Charlteston Post & Courier - Quiana Parler set to start in theatrical production -

  Quiana's dream
  
  Everyone who has ever seen her knows that Quiana Parler is great on stage. Remember "Serenade" at the Charleston Music Hall? She was, well, dreamy.
  
  Sure, she's a fabulous stand-up singer, but she's a natural in a theater role, too.
  
  North Carolina Theatre, Raleigh's premier professional regional theater, has scheduled Parler to play Effie White in its upcoming production of "Dreamgirls," set to run Jan. 12-20 in the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.
  
  A Lowcountry native, Parler has toured with Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson as a background vocalist and was featured in the "Clay Aiken Christmas Show" last year.

• Pretoria News (South Africa) - South African Idol article ... weird how OTWOL is listed as Clay's:
  

  Jody gets Luther Vandross's soppy ballad, Dance With My Father, the powerful Ain't No Other Man by Christina Aguilera and, her choice, On The Wings of Love by Clay Aiken.
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Grand Rapids Press
• Wilkes University - discount tickets available to Wilkes-Barre concert
• Grand Rapids Press - another article -

  Last December, Aiken joined the Grand Rapids Symphony for a sold-out show in DeVos Performance Hall. But the 2003 "American Idol" runner-up is touring with a new show.
  
  "It differs a little bit every year," Aiken said about his fourth holiday tour. "We have a tradition of involving people from the communities we visit in the show. The first tour, we used children from local orchestras, elementary schools, high schools.

• Kalamazoo Gazette
• Erie Times News - orchestra excited to work with Clay -

  Eric Borenstein, executive director of the Erie Phil, said the orchestra is excited about backing Smith on Sunday, as well as Clay Aiken for his holiday show on Dec. 16, also at Tullio Arena.

• Wilkes Barre Citizen's Voice
• Florida Sun Sentinel - Kimberley Locke article -

  This year's band includes contemporary jazz singer and guitarist Jonathan Butler, basketball pro-turned-bassist Wayman Tisdale and American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke. Koz tapped Locke, the Season 2 runner-up to Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, to sing Please Come Home for Christmas on the Memories album.

• Chexxy's Place - Clay kicks off Christmas tour. Setlist includes the "Welcome to our World", above.
• The ConCLAYve -

  Last night was Clay's first tour stop in Wichita, Kansas. For a man who has done everything in the last four years to make each of his Christmas tours different from the last, I had no idea what to expect. One year, it was Clay and his three backup singers, with little children reading passages from the Nativity story. The next, Clay decided to write a play, using actors, dancers and local choirs and, instead of using any of the witty banter for which he has become known, Clay "spoke" his part entirely in song. Last year, he was a solo act with orchestra, and drew reviews that praised his comic skills just as much as his singing.
  

• Carolina On My Mind - press applauds Clay's holiday tour

Tidbits 11/25

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS IN THE HEARTLAND TOUR
TOUR START TOMORROW!
CDD's Christmas tour blog

• Asheville Citizen Times - Christmas CD's to add to your collection ... includes MCWL!

  1 "Merry Christmas With Love" - Clay Aiken. North Carolina's "American Idol" superstar dishes the holiday delights, including "O Holy Night" and "Winter Wonderland."
  
  Did you know: His concert this past summer at Biltmore Estate was a quick sell-out, pulling more than 3,000 fans.

• Globe Gazette - Wrapping For Inclusion looking for local volunteers -

  MASON CITY — “Wrapping for Inclusion,” a national fund-raiser for The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF), will be held at Southbridge Mall this holiday season.
  
  Wrapping for Inclusion is an awareness campaign in which volunteers wrap gifts in exchange for donations at local businesses.
  
  The goal nationwide is to raise $100,000 to pay for 10 Let’s All Play camps.
  
  The group will be at the mall Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
  
  Volunteers are still needed and can contact Joy Brown at 641-423-3872.
  
  TBAF donations are used to bridge the gap between people with disabilities and the world around them, said its Web site, http://bubelaiken.org/.
  
  The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, established in 2003, was co-founded by Diane Bubel and “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken, to benefit children with developmental disabilities. Bubel’s son Mike is autistic.
  

• New York Daily News - review of Jordin Spark's new CD -

  Sparks comes to her maiden recording as perhaps the only top idol winner unarmed by a signature style. Past winners - or near winners - have each had a particular forte, or at least an allegiance to a style, that gave them something akin to character. See: Kelly Clarkson's faux rock, Taylor Hicks' pseudo-soul, Bo Bice's Hollywood Southern rock, Fantasia's backwoods R&B, Carrie Underwood's big-voiced country and Clay Aiken's Broadway schmaltz.

• Santa Cruz Sentinel - flea market closing ...

  Lisa Richardson of Los Gatos, who laid out a blue tarp to display holiday garlands, a Clay Aiken CD and a book on salad making, said she has driven her family's unwanted castoffs to the flea market every few months for five years. While she could more easily sell her schlock on e-Bay, she said she would miss the cycle-of life philosophy that defines the flea market.

• Christmas tour listings:
• Twin Cities Pioneer Press
• Evansville Courier Press
• Springfield News Leader - celebrity birthdays this week -

  Nov. 30: Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is 90. Actor Robert Guillaume is 80. TV personality and producer Dick Clark is 78. Director Ridley Scott is 70. Singer-actor Mandy Patinkin is 55. Singer Billy Idol is 52. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 42. Singer Clay Aiken is 29.
  

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 11/21

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS IN THE HEARTLAND TOUR
5 DAYS
CDD's Christmas tour blog

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Western Michigan University -

  American Idol and contemporary music icon Clay Aiken will visit Western Michigan University to perform holiday favorites with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in Miller Auditorium

• SFist - Jordin Sparks... can she sell CD's?

  Jordin Sparks - Jordin Sparks: Music pleasure? No. Curiosity? Yes. We are definitely curious to see if the latest American Idol can actually sell CD's, concert tickets and continue a career after her four months of fame earlier this year. We think that another season two fiasco is upon us (meaning that the #2 will be more famous than the #1 - Clay Aiken vs. Ruben Studdard). With the recent semi-demise of Kelly Clarkson and yet another (lovely?) country album by Carrie Underwood (bleh!), we wonder about how many seasons do we have to endure of this ridiculous search for the next pop star. We are disenchanted by it all.
  

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Ruben Studdard on Clay & Kimberley Locke -

  In recent weeks, he's had a chance to relive that 2003 season of "Idol" when he and Clay Aiken ended up in the first and second slots. The syndicated "American Idol Rewind" is replaying that season, and stirring up memories of the biggest event of his life.
  
  "I see Clay a lot, I see Kim Locke a lot. Pretty much everybody," he says of that sophomore "Idol" class. "We were the best of friends then, and we're the best of friends now. You have to understand with all of us being from the South. We're pretty much all raised the same, same church-going background. It was really a family."

• Associated Press - Birthday article for Nov. 30 ... "Singer Clay Aiken is 29."

• Nothing here today
  

Tidbits 11/11

• Arizona Republic - Jordin Sparks to release debut album ...

  The company, part of British entertainment wizard Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, has the marketing power to get Idol alumni Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken on the radio. But if an artist doesn't have a clear artistic vision, his or her identity can get lost in the Idol machinery.

• New Jersey Star Ledger - MCWL co-producer Phil Ramone ... Clay mention -

  Not every producer stays anonymous, of course. Think of Phil Spector, in his glory days, or Tim baland, now. But Ramone, who has worked with everyone from John Coltrane to Clay Aiken, is a behind- locked-doors kind of guy

• Taking A Moment - Jemock shares with us some of her "Christmas in the Heartland" memories
• Carolina On My Mind - November gets started with a pile of "non-stop" clack
  

Idol Stalker Poll: Clay vs Jordin - "To Love Somebody"

If you remember correctly, CDD let you know earlier this week that Friday would be "Clay Day" at Idol Stalker, a day when they guaranteed that there would be something about Clay in their article. Sure enough, Idol Stalker kept its promise and has a poll with Clay and Jordin both belting out "To Love Somebody" on American Idol. You can run over there and listen to both versions and vote. As of the writing of this article, Clay is ahead of Jordin, 631 to 7.

Be sure and listen to Clay's version again. It will still send chills down you, especially that great long note he holds out!

Tidbits 8/26

• LBFCA - Clay and his crush on "robot girl" -

  At the concert in Pala when Clay was setting up the TV medleys part of the show, he brought up a favorite show of his as a kid (and incidentally one of mine), "Small Wonder."
  
  Clay went on to say that he had a huge crush on the star of the show, Vickie, the robot girl.
  

• Toronto Star - quoting Clay's "Sexyback"/Classics medley banter -

  We don't even know what that means and it still creeps us out
  "Thank God we have [Justin Timberlake]. I'm happy to be the person who gets the old ladies covered."'
  CLAY AIKEN

• Vancouver Province - Chris Daughtry article ...

  Davis is, of course, 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.

• North County Gazette - Jordin Sparks to release debut single tomorrow -

  Earlier this month, Jordin signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records, becoming the first “Idol” winner to join the Zomba Label Group. Past Idol winners such as Ruben Studdard and Fantasia signed with the RCA Label Groups J, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks with Arista and Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken, RCA.
  

• Carolina On My Mind - revisiting the summer tour grand finale
  

Tidbits 8/21

• Lycos 50 - Clay moves up 2 spots to #14
  
• Orlando Sentinel - complaining about Hard Rock Orlando and how they treated Clay:

  Second, Hard Rock Live. I covered the Clay Aiken concert for the Sentinel on Sunday night. I didn't mention this in the review, but it was quite distracting when the Hard Rock started breaking down the bar during one of Aiken's quieter numbers, a song he wrote himself. My seatmates and I were turning around in our seats to see what the ruckus was. Poor Clay's on stage pouring out his heart about being alone without love, and all I can hear is the dishwasher starting and ice being dumped!
  

• San Jose Mercury News - article about a local singer prepping for a big show -

  At 6 feet 3 inches, Ryan's a tall, dapper man who looks 10 years younger than his 29 years. With blue eyes, baby-smooth skin and Clay Aiken hair -- his term -- he's quite the looker.
  

• The Inquirer (Philippines) - Kathy Griffin ...

  But some of the most gut-busting are those that the redhead delivers (in her packed performances or in the show’s interspersed booth commentary), about more popular celebrities like Tyra Banks, Sharon Stone, Clay Aiken and Whitney Houston, among a gaggle of others.

• Knox News ... uh... not sure what to make of this; but Donald Trump shouldn't be uttered in the same breath as Clay Aiken, if you ask me:

  Mind you, I have absolutely *zero* interest in just about any version of "The Apprentice," but I am intrigued by the idea of the upcoming celebrity version, coming in early 2008. New York tabs are reporting that The Donald is trying to nab Paris Hilton and Britney Spears -- which would get me to watch in a heartbreat.
  
  Here's who I'd like to see:
  
  Ann B. Davis ("The Brady Bunch"), Lucas Grabeel ("High School Musical"), Kathy Griffin, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Steve-O, Masi Oki, P Diddy, Clay Aiken, Peyton Manning and Dakota Fanning.

• Cinema Blend - is American Idol on the way out?

  After the backlash of season six, the question now seems to be whether or not the show will be outlived by the stars- Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, and hopefully Jordin Sparks- it created.

• Buddy TV - "So You Think You Can Dance" winners face "uncertain future" -

  American Idol breeds stars, So You Think You Can Dance does not. The reason is simple: pop singers are viable commodities, dancers are not. Idol has given us Kelly Clarkson, Katharine McPhee, Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood. No So You Think You Can Dance winner will ever sniff the success of any of those singers. Is this the way is should be? Could it be different? Can FOX do anything about it?

• Taking A Moment ... Jemock, being her usual comedic self: "Oh NOES!! The Tour is OVER?!?!? What the..?!!?!?"
  

Tidbits 8/17

The Palm Beach Post continues with part 3 of 4 with the profiles of Florida area Claymates. Today's featured Claymate is Deby Arnett:

What she likes about him: “The first thing that grabbed me was that voice. He’s very charming, so funny, and he seems like such a decent person. He’s stayed true to who he is, and he hasn’t allowed everything to change him. He’s the whole package.”

Furthest she’s traveled to see Clay: Last fall she and a friend, “my tour buddy” went to Los Angeles to see him on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and wound up seeing him in a last-minute mini-concert. “I can’t think of anyone else I would travel to see.”

But wait! There’s more!: “I admire him. He does more than just sing. He started a children’s charity, taught autistic children, he’s an ambassador for UNICEF. He’s on the President’s committee for people with intellectual disabilities.

• Access Hollywood, MSNBC - Jordin Sparks signs with Jive Records -

  Jordin is the first artist to sign with the Zomba Label Group – all past “Idol” winners and runners-up have signed with the RCA Label Group’s J (Fantasia, Ruben Studdard), Arista (Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks) or RCA (Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken) labels.

• Tour mentions:
• Miami Herald - "CALLING ALL CLAY-MATES: 2003's American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken croons at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; Ticketmaster or box office at 800-572-8471; $20-$100."
  
• St. Petersburg Times/TampaBay.com -

  Clay Aiken: As the runner-up to FOX TV's second American Idol, Clay Aiken wowed television audiences back in 2003. He released his debut album, The Measure of a Man, which sold 613,000 copies, in October 2003. Last September, the North Carolina-born singer released his latest album entitled A Thousand Different Ways. 8 p.m.; $55.50-$75.50; Morsani Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa. Call 229-7827.

• Kane County Chronicle - Christmas concert in Waukegan, IL - "CLAY AIKEN, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets: $68-$83."
• T.C. Palm - "Vocalist Clay Aiken performs, with orchestra, Saturday at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, and Sunday at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando."
• Palm Beach Daily News -

  Country orchestra: Clay Aiken will perform with orchestra at 8 p.m., Saturday, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets $20 - $100. Call 832-7469.

• Sarasota Herald Tribune -

  Clay Aiken
  
  Favorite from season 2 of "American Idol." 8 p.m. Fri. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. $55.50-$75.50. (800) 955-1045.
  

• "Idol: The Musical" calls it quits -
  
• Reality TV World -

  Idol: The Musical -- "a satirical musical comedy" that followed a delusional Clay Aiken fan base consisting of soon-to-be high-school graduates -- closed on Monday after only one regular performance, Reuters reported Tuesday.

• Major League Baseball - random Clay mention in this baseball article - "Giants manager Bruce Bochy yanked Barry Bonds from a game on Tuesday after Bonds pursued a gap shot with all the enthusiasm of a Chris Daughtry fan trapped at a Clay Aiken concert."
• Canon City Daily Record ... another random mention:

  I went to my share of games at the old Mile High and have been to many at Invesco Field and, I gotta tell you, Mile High Stadium games make games at Invesco feel like Clay Aiken concerts.

• Thailand Island Packet - random mention of "a light purple Clay Aiken hoodie"

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay Aiken smoking hot in Atlanta, begins final Florida leg of summer tour -

  Hotlanta lived up to its nickname as Clay Aiken & Co. performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in sweltering triple-digit temperatures with a heat index through the roof at Chastain Park Amphitheater Wednesday night.
  
  Although 4,000 seats were sold, many season subscribers stayed home due to the oppressive weather and an orange air quality code. The estimated 3,000 in attendance, nevertheless, were rewarded with an entertaining evening of beautiful singing and hilarious banter from Clay and the musicians onstage.
  

Tidbits 8/9

• Concert mentions:
• Tampa Bay Observer - "Clay Aiken: Aug. 17, Morsani Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m.; $55.50-$75.50 (B) or (F)"
• Bradenton Herald
• University of Georgia, Red & Black
  
• National Ledger - mention of the LA Greek Theatre auction Clay donated some items to.The funds being raised are helping rebuild LA's fire destroyed Griffith Park -

  GGD were followed by other acts, including Tony Bennett, Clay Aiken and Los Lonely Boys, in setting up concerts to aid the wounded park.

• York News Times - nice Clay mention in this article about Pat Benatar ... "She was our American Idol long before Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken were even born."
• St. Louis Post Dispatch - American Idol tour article...

  Watching new champ Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis duke it out proved to be considerably less interesting than Ruben Studdard vs. Clay Aiken or Carrie Underwood vs. Bo Bice.

• Charleston Post Courier - AI auditions... "The show, which made its debut in June 2002, has fostered the careers of several previously unknown talents, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry."
  
• Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram - article about an AI2 top 32 semifinalist... mentions being in the same group as Clay during AI2 - "Fuentes was in the top 32 semifinalists of season 2 of American Idol. Her semifinalist group of eight included season winner Ruben Studdard, as well as Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke, who came in second and third."
  

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 7/19

• Clay said at last night's M&G in Syracuse that his appearance on FOX's Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader will be taped sometime in August. He says he doesn't know when it will air.
  
• Clay mention on The View, reports the CB's angelcat4jc -

  Paula Abdul is the co-host and she was asked about whether all the winners deserved to win. She said when it came down to the finals, the right person won. But then she said sometimes the record label doesn't support the winner and Joy said in Season two Ruben Studdard didn't sell as much as Clay Aiken. Paula said yea, Clay Aiken sold more albums than Ruben. Then Barbara starts talking about Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson.
  

• LiveDaily's review of the AI6 concert in Glendale, AZ -

  It's unclear whether [Idol winner Jordin] Sparks will be as successful as former Idols Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson, but at 17 she has the poise, grace and talent of someone 10 years older.

• Concert listings:
• Tampa Tribune
• Nashua Union Leader -

  Nashua Symphony Orchestra will provide the musical backdrop for Clay Aiken when the pop singer visits the picturesque Lakes Region for an 8 p.m. concert Wednesday, July 25, at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford.
  
  "Meadowbrook contacted us and invited us to perform with Clay Aiken," said Caroline Mardiasmenos, spokeswoman for the orchestra.
  
  As the runner-up in Fox TV’s second "American Idol" singing competition, Aiken garnered scores of fans -- or devoted "Claymates" -- in 2003 with his Southern charm, easygoing demeanor and bright voice.

• NC Times - holding our own Idol competition - "The perpetually No. 1-rated show has launched the singing careers of Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Elliot Yamin and Clay Aiken, among others, and the summer auditions around the country draw upwards of 100,000 people in each city."
• AntiMusic - uh... I better keep my mouth shut on this one -

  It was a pretty dead day for real music news but children's entertainment had some hefty headlines with a reported leak of the ending to the final Harry Potter book (he falls in love with Clay Aiken)

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay kicks off New York dates. Carolina Clay posted this review of Clay's concert from a MALE concertgoer who had "cheap balcony seat"... cool!

  I DEFINITELY enjoyed the show. And, he is a FUNNY guy! Those comments about the plane incident and the 'hand over the mouth of a yakkity woman" were priceless!! It seemed to me that Clay and the two girls really, REALLY enjoy doing the show. It was loose, relaxed, and just plain fun.
  
  The singing was wonderful. loved hearing those big notes again -- and in person for the first time! The fact that he covers just about any genre you can think of was also great fun. The TV themes -- Michael Jackson and Madonna??? Unbelievable! He did some GREAT MJ singing there.
  
  I just wish the boy would get the beat into his feet! If he had done the moonwalk on those MJ songs, that place would have come crashing down! The screams and noise -- I thought Elvis had just appeared on stage!
  
  All in all, a GREAT time! I really enjoyed it and definitely hope he comes through here with the Christmas show! I'm kicking myself NOW for not seeing it the last time!

Tidbits 5/30

• Pop Matters - The article, "Jordin, Blake - Who Cares" has a Clay mention: "Most importantly, will Jordin be insistent on pursuing her musical desires, the way Kelly and Fantasia and (though he lost his latest battle) Clay Aiken have?"
  
  
• TC Palm Entertainment - Lists Clay's concert at Kravis Center:
  • Clay Aiken With Orchestra; 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18. Tickets $20-$65.
• This Week News - tour mention ... Columbus concert
  
• ABC13 - the usual Rosie mentions.

• Happy belated Brithday to WebWeaver's World... her blog turned 1 year old this month.
  

Tidbits 5/27

• A few Clay mentions over at Fred Bronson's Billboard Chart Beat -
  
• First up is this one Billboard Chart Beat about Avril Lavigne's new single -

  "Girlfriend" is the first No. 1 on the RCA label since Clay Aiken's "This Is the Night" occupied the penthouse in June-July 2003. Lavigne is the first solo female to have a No. 1 on RCA since Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This" held sway for two weeks in October 2002. "Girlfriend" is the first non-Idol No. 1 for RCA since Christina Aguilera's "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" topped the chart for four weeks in October-November 2000.

• And this one is a Billboard Chart Beat Chat about the successes of American Idol contestants -

  Season Two
  "Measure of a Man," Clay Aiken, No. 1 (2003)
  "Soulful," Ruben Studdard, No. 1 (2003)
  "One Love," Kimberley Locke, No. 16 (2004)
  "Josh Gracin," Josh Gracin, No. 11 (2004)
  

• Pittsburgh Post Gazette - AI article ...

  Jordin is talented and lovely -- I'm happy for her. But Blake never stood a chance with "This is My Now" -- how could he beatbox and jazz up a sappy, dull pop song? Oh well. We all know second place is just as good as first when it comes to "American Idol" -- just look at Clay Aiken and Katharine McPhee, or even fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry. But as a Blaker Girl, I'm bummed the hip beatboxer doesn't pull off the underdog victory.
  

• A few mentions of the summer tour:
  
• Sun Sentinel
  
• Foster's Online

• The ConCLAYve - Buzz disappears from American Idol finale -

  the American Idol finale seemed like an afterthought. There was no buzz. I kind of feel badly for Jordin Sparks, she will need some serious manufactured buzz in order to have a successful album.
  
  This year's AI finale was more like that televised Yule Log film loop that you turn on at Christmas. Contrast this year with last year when a simple hint that Clay Aiken might be performing set off a frenzy on the entertainment shows. When he did appear in the infamous segment with fan and wannabe Michael Sandecki, the buzz Clay created lasted for a week after, nearly eclipsed the actual winner's moment and completely overshadowed the fact that Prince performed later.
  

Tidbits 5/22

Great Clay mention at MSN Music. It reads:

American Idol Alumni Association

Clay Aiken: Second-season runner-up Aiken is the second-highest-selling "American Idol" veteran and tops the album-sales list for nonwinners, even outselling Season-2 winner Ruben Studdard by almost double (approximately 4.5 million to 2.4 million, respectively). Aiken has also garnered three Billboard Music Awards and one American Music Award. He has a special set of extra rabid devotees who call themselves "Claymates."

• VOTE for Clay & Ruben at AmericanIdol.com.
  
• Lycos 50 - Clay remains at #10 for the week ending May 19. The caption under his name is "Humanitarian Work". 203 weeks and counting. Keep those searches up!
• MTV News - In an article called "'American Idol' Video Timeline: Five Seasons In Five Minutes (Or 2,500 Words)", Clay is mentioned under the Season 2 summary as follows:

  By casting Ruben, Clay, Kimberley and Frenchie, "AI2" broadened America's definition of "pop star image." Fans ate it up. However, by voting on voice over looks, the season ended up being fairly predictable, where the singer who deserved to go home each week did. The final Ruben/Clay showdown was a tight race (one that Seacrest called a "photo finish") and although Studdard was the victor, Aiken ultimately wiped the floor with him in record sales.

  There are lots of articles about this year's American Idol finale between Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis that mention Clay:
  
  
• AOL Television - Listed as one of the reasons that this year's American Idol failed, along with a picture of Clay and Ruben, is (scroll down on website page):

  No Name Appeal: Clay and Ruben. Kelly and Justin. Just saying the names makes us feel nostalgic. Blake and Jordin? Not so much.

• The Modesto Bee -

  It would take a miracle (20 million phone calls) for Blake Lewis to win this, and it would be interesting if he does. But if he fails, all he has to remember is that Ruben Studdard won the title but Clay Aiken, who came in second, made all the money.

• My San Antonio - "But Clay Aiken, the Season 2 runner-up, and Chris Daughtry, who finished fourth last year, actually put out hotter CDs than the winners of their seasons."
• WNBC: "Clay Aiken, who finished second to Ruben Studdard in 2003, has released three discs and sold a total of 4.5 million units."
• Chicago Tribune - "“I don’t think a final between Blake and Jordin is reminding anyone of those classic ‘Idol’ finals between Kelly [Clarkson] and Justin [Guarini] or Ruben [Studdard] vs. Clay Aiken.”"
• Hartford Courant - "The successes of past non-winners, from Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson to Clay Aiken, shows them there's a future even if they don't get the most votes tonight (likewise, the faltering this year of Taylor Hicks' debut album indicates there's no guaranteed super-stardom for a winner)."
• SouthFlorida.com - "Some of Idol's greatest success stories -- Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry from last season -- have been also-rans."
• Daily Vanguard -

  Clay Aiken, season two runner-up, experienced brief fame among the adult easy listening crowd, making him the third most successful former contestant of the show, but have you even heard his name in the last two years? Probably not, because nobody cares anymore.

• Winston Salem Journal -

  Part of the reason Fox 8 has done so well with the show over the years has been local interest, with previous seasons including such performers as Raleigh native Clay Aiken, High Point native Fantasia Barrino, and last year’s triple-punch of North Carolinians Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler and Chris Daughtry.

• Foxes on Idol recalls last year's Clay Aiken spectacular on the AI5 season finale --

  Other highlights included an appearance by Clay Aiken, who totally floored poor Michael Sandecki (the “winner” of the Golden Idol award for best impersonation), and a neat medley of Burt Bacharach songs featuring the top 12. Prince also made an appearance that night, along with Al Jarreau, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, Meatloaf, and Dionne Warwick.

• TV Guide host calls Clay Aiken "insanely popular" ... she got that right! -

  Of the six seasons to date, which do you think was the hardest to call?
  Rosanna: I think the hardest was Ruben and Clay, because Clay was insanely popular — and still is. People weren't sure which way that was going to go.

• Arizona Republic -

  Some years, I have a strong feeling who is going to win. Ruben Studdard against Clay Aiken, and I was going for the big guy all the way. Last year, I knew Katharine McPhee didn't stand a chance. But this year, I'm really confused. Jordin has a great smile, a gorgeous voice and a sweet personality (well, when she's not sniping about Rose Royce), but Blake is just so cool and charismatic and adventurous in what he does.

• TampaBay.com -

  But only two of the series' five previous winners have maintained Idol-level performing careers (Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood), with other high achievers such as Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson outperforming those who beat them in their competitions.

• Detroit Free Press -

  Note to Blake and Jordin fans: They're both young, talented, and poised for lucrative pop careers, but neither of their voices has dominated the competition -- not like the Kellys, Clays and Fantasias of yore.

• New York City Village Voice - article about New York University's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music -

  Some students specialize in engineering, some in business, and the rest—about a third—are performer-producers who gain training in how to record themselves in a multimillion-dollar studio so that they leave with full-length albums upon graduation. And if the final goal isn't already clear, a wall of photos at the fifth-floor offices at 194 Mercer Street makes the point: There's Davis with Whitney Houston and Carlos Santana. Davis with Annie Lennox and Rod Stewart. Davis handing a gold record to American Idol standout Clay Aiken.

• A few mentions of Clay's Dancing With The Stars appearance TONIGHT -
  
• The ConCLAYve
• Something That Really Happened
  

Tidbits 4/25

• There are now even more photos of Clay singing with Steven Curtis Chapman in Greensboro earlier this year up on 1ElevenImages @ SmugMug. On Friday, 3 photos were posted onto that same website.
• Sendspace - Jimmy Kimmel mentioned Clay on his show Tuesday night. The clip of this is up at Sendspace for download. The Kimmel bit was concerning Russell Simmons wanting to ban lyrics in hiphop music. Jimmy said, "If those restrictions go through, this is a serious thing, I don't see how Clay Aiken is going to be able to record another album." Ya gotta love Jimmy's snarky humor!
• News today that Rosie O'Donnell has opted not to renew her contract to be on The View:
• Playfuls.com - "Rosie also accused Kelly Ripa of homophobia because Ripa had the gall to object to American Idol fame fader Clay Aiken putting his hand over her mouth on live TV. She created another controversy by claiming 'radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam.'"
• MSNBC -

  After the last year on "The View" it's a wonder O'Donnell is standing at all, what with her feuds (Clay Aiken, Miss USA, Donald Trump, etc.), the backlash against her tasteless jokes (imitating Chinese by saying, "ching-chong, ching-chong"), plus whatever did or did not happen between her and Barbara Walters, cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck and anyone else she's supposedly fighting with on a regular basis.

• AZ Republic -

  Rosie's going after fellow daytime star Kelly Ripa -- accusing Ripa of making homophobic comments after the Regis & Kelly Live host made a joke about where Clay Aiken's hand had been, even though Aiken has never publicly discussed his sexuality -- seemed curious at best.

• Washington Post -

  "Live With Regis & Kelly's" Kelly Ripa's annoyance at guest host Clay Aiken's attempt to silence her by placing his hand over her mouth. Ripa said: "I just don't know where that hand's been, honey." Ripa vehemently denied that the comment was homophobic.

• Chicago Tribune - "she accused talk-show host Kelly Ripa of homophobia when Ripa objected to Clay Aiken putting his hand over her mouth."
• TIME Magazine blog
• The Hollywood Gossip
  
• Top 40 Charts - PR about a new CD by Lisa Palleschi ... co-writer of one of the songs, Jeff Franzel also wrote "I Survived You" for Clay.
• MTV - AI - uh...

  They're calling this two-night extravaganza "Idol Gives Back." (And let's face it. After "From Justin to Kelly" and Clay Aiken, "Idol" owes us BIG time.)

• Hartford Courant - why American Idol voting is "broken" -

  Considering past results - Reuben Studdard's victory margin over Clay Aiken was reportedly less than 1 percent in spite of tens of millions of votes tallied - along with currently observable busy signals, results to date could have been dictated by phone capacity constraints rather than true fan appeal.

• Detroit Free Press - busy line up this summer at Freedom Hills Amphitheater including Clay concert.
• Philadelphia Tribune - another mention of the tour... i think they have a typo on the date. Should read July, not June.
• Asheville Citizen Times - one more tour mention.
  
• Dallas Morning News on AI6 contestants choosing to perform previous Idols' songs -

  The kids had to pick a meaningful tune all by their lonesome. Which may explain why La-Kisha Jones went with Fantasia's Idol single, "I Believe." (Carrie Underwood last week, Fantasia this week – what's next, a little Clay Aiken number?)

• Lewiston Tribune - AI6 contestant Jordin Sparks delivered a showstopping performance on last night's Idol -

  I remember a few incredible performances from the years of watching “American Idol” — Fantasia’s “Summertime” and Clay Aiken’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” — but I was awestruck tonight watching Jordin sing.
  

• Nothing here yet.