To see the full calendar, go to CDD's page at Google Calendar:
A full list of upcoming events is also available at the CDD Claytracker.
Note: CDD does not necessarily endorse or subscribe to the editorial opinions of these websites/blogs.
Invisible has been given the gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for digital downloads. Their database now contains the following record:
AIKEN, CLAY INVISIBLE 03/31/06 RCA GOLD SINGLE SOLO DigTechnorati tags: Clay Aiken, American Idol, Invisible, RIAA
But not every "Idol" runner-up has shared Guarini's fate. At least one of them - Clay Aiken, 27, second-place finisher in the second "American Idol" in May 2003 - has eclipsed that year's winner, Ruben Studdard, 27, in CD sales and concert receipts.
In fact, Aiken is second only to Clarkson in overall success since appearing on "American Idol." While she leads him in CD sales, Aiken tops Clarkson in concert-ticket receipts - $28 million to $25 million.
Music-industry experts note that recording stars earn more money from concerts than from CDs. That has been especially true of Aiken and Clarkson, experts say, since they are the only two "Idol" stars to emerge so far as bona-fide concert headliners.
Please read the updates below.
Raleigh WRAL-FM's Bill and Sherri announced this morning on their show that Clay is scheduled to appear and perform on the 5th season finale of American Idol this Wednesday on FOX. Also scheduled to appear are Meatloaf and Canadian vocalist Daniel Powter.
This will be the first Clay performance on American Idol since May 2004. We can only hope that this has been engineered by RCA to create buzz for Clay's upcoming sophomore album.
Update 2:15 PM EDT: Entertainment Tonight has reported this on its website. Their report says:
The moment of truth is almost at hand. On Tuesday night, KATHARINE McPHEE and TAYLOR HICKS will compete -- each singing three songs -- in the last round of performances to determine who will be the next "American Idol" -- and CLAY AIKEN and CARRIE UNDERWOOD will be on hand for the crowning moment!Update 4:34 PM EDT: Infotainment show The Insider confirmed this appearance during its show today.The show interviewed the AI producers and said that they have "confirmed the appearance".
In the wake of the recent explosion of Clay blogs on the internet, we have begun blogrolling. Blogrolling refers to posting a list of related blogs. If you have a blog and wish to join our blogroll, please blogroll us then contact us via our contact form.
We are also introducing Technorati tagging so blog searching programs such as Google Blog Search and Technorati can find us easier.
Here's our blogroll. Needless to say, it's still a work in progress.
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Many of you may remember 3 years ago tonight, Clay lost to Ruben Studdard on American Idol by less than 1%. For good or for bad, this moment has been pivitol in the development of Clay's fandom.
Here's a "Today in History" article from WWBA-AM radio's website:
In 2003, 25-year-old Alabama powerhouse Ruben Studdard was named winner of the Fox talent search competition "American Idol." Studdard edged out fellow finalist Clay Aiken to snap up the title and a Million dollar recording contract.
Clay's Daily Double would like to introduce GoodSearch, a Yahoo! based search engine that shares a portion of the advertising profits with non-profit organizations.
Clay's Bubel Aiken Foundation was recently added to the list of organizations registered to profit off GoodSearch searches. In other words, each Yahoo! search you conduct via GoodSearch can benefit the foundation.
To search, go to www.goodsearch.com.
1. In the "I'm supporting" box, type in Bubel.
2. Click on Verify.
3. A pull down menu appears where the "I'm supporting" box was. Verify that it reads Bubel Aiken Foundation (Raleigh, NC).
4. Begin your websearch, as you would do normally!
Clay was mentioned several times in the May 29, X-Men cover, issue of Entertainment Weekly.
On page 14 (summary courtesy the CB's OneSingerGal):
a jazz critic says that AI has a human drama factor. ex. how it can produce metamorphosis - ex. clay aiken who went from shy nerd to androgynous egotist.On page 99 (paraphrased quotation courtesy the CB's OneSingerGal):
it's ironic that America has chosen probably the most talented finalists of the show so far, yet had to endure some of the worst theme nights. as a result, there haven't been any showstoppers, like Clay Aiken's Bridge Over Troubled Water, or Carrie Underwood's version of Heart's Alone.
I just spoke to a shuttle driver in Florida and I asked her if she was born there. She said, no, she grew up in the Carolinas. Just so happens that she lived in Charlotte for a number of years. Of course I mentioned Clay and she said, "I drove him a number of times and he's the nicest guy! No surprise to me, of course. She said they just chatted like she and I were chatting. Really down to earth. Again, no surprise. It really put a smile on my face. I told her the next time she sees him to tell him that Marilyn says hello.
According to The Morning Call, Clay's Bubel Aiken Foundation will be publishing a book about Mikayla Resh, a girl who has cerebal palsy.
Cerebal palsy is a condition resulting from brain damage prior to or just after birth. It impairs one's ability to control movements such as raising an arm or bending a finger. Over 500,000 children in the United States suffer from this debilitating condition.
According to McCall, the book, to be titled "Our Friend, Mikayla [will tell] the story of a girl with disabilities [illustrating how] she's just like you and me. The students wanted to show in words and in drawings of a girl in a wheelchair at the playground, licking lollipops and playing."
A group of authors worked closely with Mikayla's school. Infact, 10 year old Melissa Mastro was asked to create the book's cover. "I felt when someone could see it people could see that you could have friends like this," Mastro told McCall.
The project is being spearheaded by Resh's mother. After the BAF heard of the project in late 2005, a $12,500 grant was granted on the condition of secrecy. Resh's mother hopes to eventually have a copy of the book in every school in the country.
"Our Friend, Mikayla" will be available for purchase via the Bubel Aiken Foundation's website soon.
American Idol judge Paula Abdul defended Clay on last night's CNN Larry King Live. Here's what she had to say about the absurd gay allegations against Clay. Thanks to CNN for this transcript.
KING: How do you react to all the stories about Clay Aiken having homosexual liaisons?Although we do recognize that many Clay websites will not be posting this information, we do feel that it is important to keep our avenue of information open.
ABDUL: I honestly don't read any of that stuff, and I encourage the contestants to not read the good press, not read the bad press.
KING: And, by the way, why would it matter?
ABDUL: Absolutely, I agree, why would it matter?
KING: How good a talent is he?
ABDUL: Clay is an excellent vocalist. The genre and style of his music is very specific to, I feel, more adult contemporary pop. Who cares about sexual preference?
The CH's julesrules posted a fantastic recap of Clay's recent visit to Middlesex Middle School in CT.
"I was out ..but he looks different per the kids..did not sing so take a deep breath...was very kind to the students ..had kind eyes???...but that is the report...the whole school was there...we won a cheque from Pand G, and he presented it.....was down to earth..the Rodney crew (custodial staff, very awesome group. so nice. kids love them so much and respect them a lot. classy group. i mean they keep the kids in line at lunch and around the school. no destruction, lots of respect)loved him too......shook some hands.... "
From a phone convo I had with someone else...I took notes (teehee)
The school was all a buzz with news they were having a suprise visitor. Some rumors were Clay Aiken and the kids were excited and some thought it was a football star. (my guess is they thought Troy Aikman but she couldn't remember). So Clay arrived, in a limo which was at the front of the school. He went into the principal's office (the one pictured with him) and they were having a pow-wow of sorts. They were planning the assembly and they were trying to come up with math problems to do with the kids at the assembly. They were having a difficult time so they called in a math teacher (brilliant). All the kids got called into the gym and they were going crazy. The word my friend used was "out of their minds". They were screaming and really excited. My friend said that the kids were commenting that he looked really different and not the same as he did on t.v. My friend didn't really know what he looked like. (I didn't ask her to comment on that.)Clay talked about UNICEF and then did some math problems. My friend said it was like "if 1 well costs $5 to build how many wells can you build with the money you raised". Then they got more difficult. The kids had calculators and Clay was running the show, calling the kids up to do the problems. (what i would have given to see this) It was really exciting and the kids were into it, at first. *g* After about 4 the kids were and I quote "bored out of their mind." They were having some trouble as the problems got more difficult. I asked why didn't he just stop. helllo??!?!?! She said it was because that is what they planned. A guy who works for Clay went up to the teacher who helped him think up the problems and she was so shy she didn't want to go up so she refused. (bwah) My friend said the teacher was so so shy. The assembly lasted for about an hour. She said it was really fun just sitting on the floor listening to him talk and everyone at the school was so happy and excited. She also said she tried to get to meet him but they didn't leave any opportunities for that. He gave a big big hug to the principal at the end. He didn't give anyone autographs and he was rushed out to his limo.
Clay was shown on last night's E! Daily Ten. E! said that Clay was busy working on his "highly anticipated" sophomore album and that it would be out soon... "Season two's Clay Aiken says he's busy recording a highly anticipated third album... Claymates everywhere rejoice!"
E! also showed some footage from footage of Clay singing This Is The Night from 2003's American Idols Live tour.
CDD Video: Clay appears on E! Daily Ten 5/18
A special note of thanks to all our visitors who have recently left comments such as these:
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Clay's CD sales and success were briefly mentioned by RCA Records head Clive Davis on American Idol last night. However, Mr. Davis did seem a bit baised due to the fact he left many with an impression that only the winners had accounted for the 33 million CD sales of the Idols. The above is a screencap of the plaque they showed last night on Idol.
Is this picture Clay?The Associated Press' Idol article, titled "'Idol' veterans turn out to be winners" has a great Clay mention. They mention that you don't have to win Idol to find success in the music industry. They make their point by saying:
Exhibit A: second season runner-up-turned-unlikely heartthrob Clay Aiken. On the it-doesn't-hurt-to-lose side of the "AI" ledger, Aiken, who lost out to Studdard, has invited comparisons to Barry Manilow thanks to his theatrical style and loyal fans, known as Claymates. Aiken, 27, sold nearly 4 million copies, combined, of his records "Measure of a Man" and "Merry Christmas with Love."This story will start popping up virtually everywhere today and tomorrow.
Clay is mentioned in the new book, Been There, Done That
The book hits bookstores August 1. You can also pre-order via AmazonA laugh-out-loud, warmhearted debut about a woman reliving her youth (and not just the good parts).
Plenty of thirtysomething women would be thrilled to look like a teenager. But journalist Kathy Hopkins wishes she could be taken a little more seriously-or, at the very least, order a glass of wine without producing ID. Now her youthful appearance is forcing her into an undercover assignment she could do without: posing as a freshman at a small liberal arts college where, rumor has it, a secret prostitution ring is flourishing.
It could mean a career-making expose. But right now, pretending to be eighteen means dealing with a Clay Aiken--obsessed roommate, late-night parties that test her aging body--and most embarrassing of all, a massive crush on a guy who's just turned legal. Suddenly, Kathy's got the chance to do it all over again, hopefully better this time. Fortunately she's a quick learner.
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Love without Boundaries is auctioning a Clay signed cross via eBay. A plaque on one side includes Psalm 66:1-2: "Praise. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise" as well as Clay's autograph. All proceeds go to help fund surgeries for Chinese orphans.
eBay has verified and approved the organization and is therefore backed by eBay's Mission Fish feature.
