ldyjocelyn

The full Entertainment Tonight write-up and CLIP! Very adorable, from both of the guys. https://www.etonline.com/american-idol-alums-ruben-studdard-and-clay-aiken-talk-returning-to-the-show-20-years-later-205023

Entertainment Tonight on Twitter, Ruben interviews Clay:

May 18 https://www.instagram.com/p/CsXdBxXuwSD/ Two videos posted by Clay of Beth Leavel, from the Rising Stars competition. May 22 https://www.instagram.com/p/CshVZQHvCCS/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CshVZQHvCCS/

More backtracking from yesterday. This is Clay's picture with the stylist from last night (and from Idol from way back when) Miles:

Bigger images (including the one from above) via Getty. Sadly, there's a watermark.

Link to the story from ET: Love the picture!

etonline.com 'American Idol' Alums Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken Talk Returning to the Show 20 Years Later (Exclusive)

broadwayworld.com Review: 2023 Triangle Rising Star Awards

Backtracking a bit, an article from Broadway World about Clay's hosting duties a few nights ago. (I may have posted this already, but I can't remember!) https://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/Review-2023-Triangle-Rising-Star-Awards-20230519 Article from Entertainment Tonight about their return last night. https://www.etonline.com/american-idol-alums-ruben-studdard-and-clay-aiken-talk-returning-to-the-show-20-years-later-205023

I love dramatic sleeves like that, and his hair was stunning. Also, the no-socks look is still in, I guess! I've seen lots of comments on FB/Instagram saying that Clay and Ruben and their talent blew the current contestants out of the water. The only other thing I watched from last night was Iam singing "Monsters" with James Blunt. That was GOOD.

Just got my St. Charles ticket and my M&G for that show. BTW, I LOVE Clay's jacket. It's so...him.

Sorry I missed all the excitement last night. I did too much over the weekend and was wiped out by 8 pm Central time last night. So, even though I'm supposed to be working today, I'll be catching up! St. Charles, MO is the only date I think I can get to, unless I decide to get crazy and fly to see a couple of shows in California with couchie! LOL The Instagram reel announcing more dates, really cute: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Csh2lTyg5rX/?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg%3D%3D And The Impossible Dream from last night:

merrieeee, I am so sorry to read this. Please know that we are thinking of you, and if you need anything, please let us know!

Happy 20th Anniversary to Clay and Ruben! Sadly, probably will not see this live tonight, I hope the guys blow everyone away!

Details from last night's hosting gig by Clay. https://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/Review-2023-Triangle-Rising-Star-Awards-20230519

Bloomington, Illinois. More from deemer and some great shots from MnM, used with permission.

Finally catching up on photos. Starting backwards, from Wausau, the last show. Thanks for hosaa at CV for helping me sort through the pretties! Some from FB public photos, some from the Grand Theater's site, and some from deemer at CV, used with permission. I will say that many people have granted permission to share pictures, which is FANTASTIC!

EEEEEEEEEEE!

This went out all over social media last night. On the other hand...Clay was sick during the last show last night. Booo. Hope he feels better by Sunday!

It's hard to believe that the concerts are almost over! Twilight, thank you. And thanks for coming back over here! I had today off, and I'm still in zombie land. Tomorrow's workday is going to be...ugh. Fortunately, the semester is over.

The show was amazing as expected. DH and I had fabulous seats, Dead center in the third row. But the first two rows were put seats and then there was an aisle, so we had plenty of leg room. Both Clay and Ruben were in fine voice tonight. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" blew me away. The banter tonight seemed much shorter, but it was still funny. At the beginning of the second act, Clay wasnt able to do his where were you joke because someone in the audience yelled out I love you Clay! (Just like old times, right? Haha). Clay shot back wrong team, honey! The other funny thing was at the endClay grabbed Rubens jacket for the finale. Ruben was like, I cant get this jacket on! And the Clay wondered if he had lost weight!There was a professional photographer taking shots throughout the first half of the show. I would keep an eye out for them. Also, there were a couple of older, very enthusiastic Ruben fans there too. A couple, and they were slow dancing in the aisle at one point. It was cute. Almost home now. DH is driving. Excuse any typos

I saw that article Friday night, and only got a chance to fully read it yesterday. Great article. I think Fred Bronson really likes them. He’s been interviewing them since the beginning! I am so far behind on pretty pictures and such,hopefully this week. The semester is finally over at school, so I may have a bit more time. From the rubenandclay Instagram story account. Hopefully more dates soon!

mik, let me see what I can remember... From the M&G: Story that started out a bit horribly and ended up being incredibly sweet. There was a girl who arrived who was originally meant to be at an earlier M&G only to have a semi run her off the road. Through a variety of bad events, she did finally make it to that concert, but only the last few songs. So, she came to this show. I think she was from Michigan, and she was one of the “young ones.” In other words, her 12 year old self was FREAKING out at meeting Clay yesterday. She was a tattoo artist, and she had Clay sign one of her legs so she could get it tattooed on her. I think she said she was going to do it herself! Anyway, she was so cute and it just shows the power of the Aiken. There were several “first timers” in the M&G, a group from Minnesota (including one guy), and a guy from Chicago who came to the M&G by himself. He had on a Clay shirt from the tour Clay did with Kelly! It was a fun afternoon. As far as the concert goes, I think the funniest bit of banter is the beginning of the second act, when Clay starts singing "Hello" and Ruben isn't on stage. He gets to the point with "just let me start by saying..." and the lyric is supposed to be "...I love you," but by that time Ruben is on the stage, staring Clay down. So Clay sings "...where were you?" And then it just goes off the rails, because, well, Clay loves a good bathroom joke. Or two. Or ten. But then, Ruben starts teasing him back, mimicking Clay singing. He ends the phrase with "...jokes on you." Clay said, "that was good, I'm going to use it." The other banter that makes it all worthwhile is the encore with "The Impossible Dream." They both really, really, REALLY feel the love that has been given to them over the years, and the whole idea that the fans were what made it possible for them to be on the stage that night. It really was sentimental and sweet, and the icing on the cake of finishing it with that song made it all incredibly moving. Yes, Clay basically knew who I was at the soundcheck -- I would say there were 15 of us at the soundcheck, and I think he knew about half of us. But he also realized that when I said I was from the Peoria area, he knew that they had a show coming up close by, in Bloomington. What made that interesting was that one of the Minnesota people was from Bloomington, MN (land of the Mall of America), and then Clay mentioned that they were going to Bloomington, but not that one. He thought, though, it was the INDIANA one and I had to slightly correct him. LOL. I am truly excited for tomorrow night! It is a show not to be missed -- travel if you must, because it's worth Every. Freakin'. Penny. Take out a second mortgage. Take retirement fund money out. Just do it, you'll be glad you did.

The finale.