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ldyjocelyn

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As per my tradition, here is the Clay Aiken timeline for 2023.  I'm afraid it's not quite as complete as I usually try to be, because keeping track of the interviews Clay and Ruben this year, that appeared online, was for some reason very hard for me.  If anyone wants to help fill that out, please let me know!

  • February 1 -- Clay appears on "Celebrity Name That Tune!" (Fox). His opponent is Jordin Sparks, also of American Idol fame. He beat Jordin in the main game, but bombed spectacularly during the final round.  Still, he won $32,000 for the National Inclusion Project!

  • February 2 -- Word gets out for a taping of "Tamron Hall" (syndicated) with Clay and Ruben scheduled for this date.

  • February 6 -- The appearance on "Tamron Hall."  Clay and Ruben were both very animated as they talked about the tour and fatherhood.  They also sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" together!

  • February 22 -- M&G packages for the summer tour are announced.  Included are attendance at the sound check (with a song that won't be in the show, but only for that venue -- lots of individuality there), a hoodie and a picture with Clay & Ruben.

  • March 1 -- Clay does a radio interview with local Raleigh, NC station WPTF. He gave a preview of some of the stories he'll be telling with Ruben during the tour this year.

  • March 6 -- Another radio interview is released, this time with G105 (Raleigh) morning show.  They played a few silly games, including one where Clay had to finish the song.  Nice to hear his voice!

  • March 7 -- A snippet of an interview from Clay and Ruben released on South Coast Today.

  • March 9 -- A YouTube short of Clay and Ruben publicizing the Nashua Center appears.  It shows their trademark humor.  Also, Clay attends an event called "Big Night in for the Arts," benefiting arts councils in the Triangle Area.

  • March 10 -- This time, it's a Facebook Reel that shows up with Clay and Ruben ribbing each other.  It advertises for the Arcada Theater show.

  • March 28 -- A video interview on Queen City News Charlotte (NC).  Cute video interview.

  • March 30 -- The WNYT (TV station in the Capital area of New York) online show "Onorato & Company" hosts Clay and Ruben as they discuss the opening night's show!

  • April 2 -- Clay, along with Justin Guarini, Jordin Sparks, David Archuleta, Caitie Turner, Noah Thompson, and Phillip Phillips (all other Idol finalists), mentor contestants for Hollywood week on "American Idol." Clay proves himself to be a caring and compassionate mentor as he helps them with their confidence.

  • April 3 -- Another video interview for promotion of the tour.  This one is for WBTV in Charlotte, NC.

  • April 5 -- And the Interviews keep coming!  Two released today:  "Soda City Live" (WIS 10 in Columbia, SC) and an interview released on Twitter from Nippertown, based in central New York.

  • April 10 -- "The Pulse with Bill Anderson" (WTXF, Fox 29 in Philadelphia) has an interview with Clay and Ruben.  There's also a long radio interview on WAMC (NPR in Albany, NY).

  • April 11 -- Can you tell the tour is almost here?  An interview on "New York Live!" (NBC 4 out of New York City), as well as PIX 11 from New York City as well.

  • April 12 -- The opening night of Clay and Ruben Studdard with their "Twenty Years, One Night" tour (hereafter referred to as "20-1").  It starts at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (Troy, NY). Earlier in the day, two Facebook interviews appear, one from the Kokomo Press, the other B106.7.  Both fun interviews!

  • April 13 -- 20-1 at the Nashua Center for the Arts (Nashua, NH).

  • April 14 -- 20-1 at the Zeiterion Theatre (New Bedford, MA).

  • April 16 -- 20-1 at the Fallsview Casino Resort (Niagara Fall, ON, Canada).

  • April 17 -- 20-1 at the Fallsview Casino Resort (Niagara Fall, ON, Canada).

  • April 18 -- 20-1 at the Fallsview Casino Resort (Niagara Fall, ON, Canada).

  • April 20 -- 20-1 at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (Patchogue, NY).

  • April 21 -- An interview with Clay on WDBJ-7 out of Roanoke, VA, promoting the show on May 5.

  • April 22 -- 20-1 at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts (Bronx, NY).

  • April 24 -- 20-1 at the Wall Street Theater (Norwalk, CT). Also, a new video interview appears on FB with both Ruben and Clay, from NBC CT Live in Connecticut.

  • April 26 -- 20-1 at the Count Basie Center for the Arts (Red Bank, NJ).  There's also a radio interview on "On Point with Juandolyn Stokes" (NewsTalk 1340 WAOK), publicizing the May 6 concert at Mableton, GA.  And then, an interview via Facebook from Mix 107.9 in Charlotte, NC.

  • April 27 -- 20-1 at Penn's Peak (Jim Thorpe, PA).  There's also a really good interview with Clay on the "Open House Party" podcast with Kannon.  

  • April 28 -- 20-1 at the Parx Casino (Bensalem, PA).

  • April 29 -- 20-1 at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre (Cary, NC).

  • April 30 -- 20-1 at the Newberry Opera House (Newberry, SC).

  • May 2 -- 20-1 at the Midland Theatre (Newark, OH).

  • May 4 -- 20-1 at the Knight Theater (Charloette, NC).

  • May 5 -- 20-1 at the Jefferson Center (Roanoke, VA).

  • May 6 -- 20-1 at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre (Mableton, GA).

  • May 7 -- 20-1 at the Oxford Performing Arts Centers (Oxford, AL).

  • May 10 -- 20-1 at the Arcada Theatre (St. Charles, IL).

  • May 11 -- 20-1 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts (Carmel, IN).

  • May 12 -- 20-1 at the Genesee Theatre (Waukegan, IL).

  • May 13 -- 20-1 at the Honeywell Center (Waubash, IN).

  • May 14 -- 20-1 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (Bloomington, IL).

  • May 16 -- 20-1 at the Grand Theater (Wausau, WI).

  • May 18 -- Once again, Clay hosts the Triangle Rising Star Awards, for young performers in the area.

  • May 21 -- Clay and Ruben celebrate 20 years to the day of the finale of the second season of "American Idol" by appearing on the finale of the current season.  They sing "The Impossible Dream" (the finale song from the 20-1).  Also on this date...new 20-1 dates appear on the website and via Instagram!  EEEEE!

  • June 4 -- According to a tweet, Clay attended a fundraiser for NC Theater.

  • June 9 -- An appearance on the Navarro-Miller podcast.

  • June 21 -- Clay emceed at the Equality PAC Pride Gala, held at Union Station's East Hall in Washington, DC.

  • September 19 -- Clay and Ruben do a radio interview on The Carney Show (KTRS, St. Louis).

  • September 23 -- 20-1 at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center (Arcardia, CA).

  • September 29 -- 20-1 at the Arts Commons (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).

  • September 30 -- 20-1 at the River Cree Casino & Resort (Enoch, Alberta, Canada).

  • October 4 -- 20-1 at the Alaska Airline Center (Anchorage, AK).

  • October 7 -- The 20th Anniversary National Inclusion Project Gala. The day starts with many of the attendees going on a bus tour of Raleigh hosted by Clay, Dianne Bubel and Nick Leisey.  At the dinner, Ben Cohn and Sean McDaniel are given the Founder's Award.  Clay sings the entire "Measure of a Man" album in its entirety.

  • October 8 -- 20-1 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center (Nashville, TN).

  • October 9 -- 20-1 at Memorial Hall (Cincinnati, OH).

  • October 10 -- 20-1 at the Otis A. Singletary Center for the Arts (Lexington, KY). On September 28, this show was cancelled.

  • October 11 -- 20-1 at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center (Marion, IL).

  • October 16 -- 20-1 at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts (San Antonio, TX).

  • October 18 -- 20-1 at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center (Midland, TX).

  • October 19 -- 20-1 at the Celebrity Theatre (Phoenix, AZ).

  • October 20 -- 20-1 at the Fox Tucson Theatre (Tucson, AZ).

  • October 22 -- 20-1 at the McCain Auditorium (Manhattan, KS).

  • October 23 -- 20-1 at the Uptown Theater (Kansas City, MO).

  • October 24 -- 20-1 at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts (Springfield, MO).

  • October 25 -- 20-1 at the Pulaski Technical College The Center for Humanities and Arts (North Little Rock, AR).

  • October 27 -- 20-1 at the Family Arena (St. Charles, MO).

  • October 28 -- 20-1 at the Astro Theater and Amphitheater (La Vista, NE).

  • October 29 -- 20-1 at the Hutchinson Fox Theatre (Hutchinson, KS).

  • October 31 -- 20-1 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center (Rapid City, SD). At this show, Clay appears on stage with an eye patch.  It seems he lost a fight with a sidewalk in Nebraska, leaving him with a nasty black eye.

  • November 1 -- 20-1 at the Alberta Bair Theater (Billings, MT).

  • November 3 -- 20-1 at the Shoshone Bannock Hotel (Fort Hall, ID).

  • November 4 -- 20-1 at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort (Suquamish, WA).

  • November 5 -- 20-1 at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino (Airway Heights, WA).  "Pirate Clay" is no more at this show; makeup can now cover his black eye.

  • November 6 -- 20-1 at Portland's 5 Centers for the Arts (Portland, OR).

  • November 7 -- 20-1 at the Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing Arts (Medford, OR).

  • November 9 -- 20-1 at the Blue Note (Napa, CA).  Two shows that night.

  • November 10 -- 20-1 at the Harris Center (Folsom, CA).

  • November 16 -- 20-1 at the Gallo Center for the Arts (Modesto, CA).

  • November 17 -- 20-1 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (Cerritos, CA).

  • November 18 -- 20-1 at the McCallum Theatre (Palm Desert, CA).

  • November 19 -- 20-1 at the Sycuan Casino Resort (El Cajon, CA).

  • December 2 -- Clay and Ruben appear at a Gala for the David Foster Foundation, held at Cabo in Mexico.  From Facebook snippets, it looks as if they did some of the Boy Band Medley from 20-1.

  • December 14 -- Holiday Pops with the Naples (Florida) Philharmonic.

  • December 15 -- Holiday Pops with the Naples Philharmonic.

  • December 16 -- 2 shows (afternoon and evening) of the Holiday Pops with the Naples Philharmonic.

  • December 17 -- A final Holiday Pops with the Naples Philharmonic.

  • December 31 -- Clay and Ruben appear on the NexStar/Fox New Year's Eve Celebration.  It was available streaming through several TV station's websites, including KTLA.  Ruben sang "Flying Without Wings," while Clay did "Bridge Over Troubled Water."  This was a pretaped segment.

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New article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  I was told it's behind a paywall, but I was able to access it without difficulties.  I'm copying the full text here.

From 'American Idol' rivals to besties, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken explain

 

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From 'American Idol' rivals to besties, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken explain

Headed to Minneapolis, they discuss first impressions, pet peeves, parenting and their brotherly relationship. 
By Jon Bream Star Tribune
 
JANUARY 4, 2024 — 5:00AM

Clay Aiken, top, and Ruben Studdard are on the concert tour “Twenty” to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their “American Idol” showdown in 2003.

They seemed an unlikely couple — the teddy bear from Alabama with the gospelly R&B voice and the geeky pop singer from North Carolina. But Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken hit it off on "American Idol" in 2003, finishing as winner and runner-up, respectively — and best friends.

Unlike any other "Idol" contestants, they've been forever linked. They toured together in 2010 and four years later they did a Christmas show on Broadway. They call it a brotherly relationship with divergent paths.

While Studdard has had a steady career of touring and recording R&B albums, Aiken twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress in North Carolina. He hasn't released an album since 2010 or performed since 2014. Both singers ended up on reality TV: Aiken on "The Celebrity Apprentice" in 2012 and Studdard on "The Biggest Loser" in 2014.

Last year, Aiken finally returned to music to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his and Studdard's "American Idol" run.

Headed to the Dakota in Minneapolis, Studdard and Aiken, both 45, started talking about the Twin Cities before they entertained questions in a joint phone interview last weekend. Aiken reminisced about opening the 2003 "American Idol" tour in St. Paul, where they rehearsed for a week. Studdard has been a regular Thanksgiving visitor because his best childhood friend lives in Mendota Heights.

Here are excerpts from an hourlong conversation.

Q: Ruben, how did you convince Clay to return to the road after all these years?
RS: We talked about it before, but I don't think he really considered it until he came to see my Luther [Vandross] show a couple years ago.
CA: Ruben had been on the road for 20 years solid. I had stopped and taken an ill-advised detour into, should we call, "public service." He stayed supportive during the whole time I did that. When you see Ruben perform, it just makes you happy. Not often do I see a show that makes me want to get back onstage.

Q: Why is the set list all covers? No solo hits like Clay's "Invisible" or Ruben's "Sorry 2004."
RS: It's the Ruben and Clay Show, not the Ruben Studdard or Clay Aiken show. We try to give people opportunity to have fun from the perspective of where they met us, which is on "American Idol."
CA: It's a celebration of that pivotal moment not only in our lives but in America's lives. Season 2 was the year the show exploded. It's not a co-headlining where we each do our own set. You still get a heavy dose of Ruben singing "Flying Without Wings" and me doing "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Q: Clay, what was your first impression of Ruben 20 years ago?
CA: Omigod, I was intimidated. My first impression of him onstage was that's the dude I've got to beat. My first impression of him as a person is the same as it is today: He'll talk to anybody, can talk to anybody, he is the most sociable, friendly. He walked up to me in the restaurant at the Hilton [Hotel] and we've been barely separated since.

Q: Ruben, what was your first impression of Clay?
RS: I thought he was hella cool. I saw him around a bunch of ladies that had been singing. The next day I got to hear how extremely talented he was. We had this spiritual thing. When they put us in that "Idol" house, we ended up being like the brother we never had. We ate cereal together, we played video games, anything you could think of.

Q: Ruben, how has Clay changed in 20 years?
RS: As far as personality, he's become a lot more assertive. Which is something that concerned me at the beginning of our friendship. Because I used to not like the way he handled things.
CA: Now he's concerned for the other reason. He's like: "Damn, be less assertive, please."
RS: Yeah, but he's definitely come into who he is as an adult. I think we were still trying to find ourselves on that show. I think "Idol" really centered me in that vision [of who I am].

Q: Clay, how has Ruben changed in 20 years?
CA: Ruben has always been sort of — sage is the wrong word to use. When we'd sit in group meetings when the top 12 had to make a decision without the producers, Ruben would be the one that people would defer to. Now Ruben has that same sage ability to guide folks and mentor others. He's a calming presence when I lose my temper. He's a mentor to the band, to the crew, to the people in Alabama who line up to be his background singers.

Q: Do you share fatherhood tips?
RS: I just watch [Clay]. He is the prototypical Southern father. We're different as it pertains to discipline down here. We're "yes ma'am, no sir." That stuff is paramount. The pleasantries that we have to exhibit that go a long way to get you places. I've seen him in his co-parenting role. I know he tripped and stumbled a couple of times but he does it with grace and good character. He has a good heart. I know his son appreciates that.
CA: He doesn't like his dad at this moment. He's 16. The tour came through Raleigh back in the spring and after the show I had friends and family milling around. Afterward I had four different people send me a photo of Ruben and Parker [Aiken's son] together. Ruben had his hand on Parker's shoulder. They had this really serious conversation. You can just see in Parker's eyes that he was listening to what Uncle Ruben was telling him and he was taking it to heart. We have been less advisers to each other as far as parenting goes as opposed to Ruben has been an uncle figure who he can ask for advice. God help us one day Olivier [Ruben's young son] will ask me for advice.

Q: How often do you text or talk when not working together?
RS: I would say as often as I would text my own brother. Once every two or three weeks.
CA: Ruben is better about that than I am. Sometimes we'll hop on the phone.

Q: Clay, what's your biggest pet peeve about Ruben?
CA: He'll answer his phone — no matter who it is even if he doesn't know who it is — in the middle of anything. It could be a blocked number and he could be in the middle of planning a funeral and he'd answer the phone and it'll be someone from Birmingham asking if he'll come to their Little League game.
Studdard laughed.

Q: Ruben, what's your pet peeve about Clay?
RS: There's so many.
Aiken laughed.
CA: You don't have to be diplomatic. Just say it.
RS: Clay is a lot more serious in moments when I want him to enjoy the experience. A lot of times Clay is very meticulous and focused on the minor things. That is the producer in him and the person who has run his own campaign and has to be meticulous as opposed to enjoying the fact that he's actually running for Congress.
CA: You can tell Ruben would be a great politician himself. What he's saying is I'm anal and have a temper. He's saying it so nicely. He's always been extra nice.
RS: We are a team. We can argue internally but no one outside of us will know we argued.


Q: Why haven't "Idol" contestants had more success in the record industry?
RS: We were on a television show, and it doesn't have anything to do with the record industry. It gives you a platform to recognize your talent but it doesn't give you a golden ticket to sell a million records. Truth of the matter is "Idol" doesn't have the same record machine when [legendary record executive] Clive Davis was a part of the show. Different companies have different objectives.
CA: When Ruben and I and Kelly [Clarkson] and Fantasia and Carrie Underwood were on the show, "Idol" was produced by a record company, 19 Entertainment. Simon Fuller created it and the winner was signed to his label. So for the first four years, it was a motivation to make sure that each person on the show became a long-term artist. As years went on and the show became owned by Fox and later ABC and Disney, the motivation is to create a good TV show. What's important is that the overnights [ratings] come in good. Now social media is important so a lot of the show needs to be produced so there are shareable moments. The way we measure success is different now. It's followers and shares.

Q: Clay, what did you learn in politics that helps you in your performing career?
CA: Nothing. This tour is the first thing I've done since I finally bleached myself of that world that has made me realize how much more authentic entertainment is than politics. That's a shame. That has a lot to do with why people hate politicians. Ruben and I go onstage and we're just ourselves. We're not guarded. People have fun and enjoy it. It's so much easier.

Politics, even when you try to be yourself, you have 15, 20 people telling you not to. I pushed hard not to follow that stuff but there's a constant pressure to do what the polls tell you to do. Or what your communications [staff] tell you to say. The only thing I want to learn from politics is what not to do and how not to be.


Q: How much do you pay attention to "Idol" these days?
RS: I watch. I'm not invested in the kids like I used to be in early seasons.
CA: Without watching this last season, I strayed for several years. Megan Wolflick used to drive us around when she was 24 as a producer on our season of "Idol," now she's the showrunner. Both of us have gotten a little more interested in it. She's bringing back some of the elements that made "Idol" great 20 years ago.

Q: What's next after this tour?
RS: Going out to perform my new record [released in October] — "The Way I Remember It."
CA: I don't know the answer. I'm enjoying performing so much that I'll probably keep on. I'm certainly not going back to politics. But I think before our 25th anniversary, there will be a Ruben & Clay project of some kind because we enjoy working together so much.

Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken

When: 6:30 and 9 p.m. Fri.
Where: The Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.
Tickets: $65-$80, dakotacooks.com

 

 

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video clips Fargo Theater 1/4/24  Boy Bands segment

https://www.facebook.com/100000231010912/videos/pcb.25334764996114519/3620458001558323

https://www.facebook.com/100000231010912/videos/pcb.25334764996114519/2113048035703585

 

Same above video clips  plus additional photos from FB post:

https://www.facebook.com/catreena.stirton/posts/pfbid0368mcrNvn4LtTCMvsV942PqoGh9DhjrWeRw7UVf6bTkRENDy2UZxFmMjmHXs78Xndl

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Fargo Theater 1/4/24

Bridge Over Troubled Water

https://www.facebook.com/100003058869713/videos/pcb.6689896061122290/752315073610706

Same above video plus additional clips and photos from FB:

https://www.facebook.com/kristi.h.wong/posts/pfbid023rJJymLKP2ekdJipuMjADFSCsc29pYEeMorqz1DWnTZX9i3Cwb7HCkNAQMC5W4JFl

 

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ldyjocelyn Campaign Manager

ldyjocelyn

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Videos from nickikiwi at CV from her public FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/nicki.mcminn/videos/2020152361691847

https://www.facebook.com/nicki.mcminn/videos/3699625773602490

https://www.facebook.com/nicki.mcminn/videos/952680082942107

https://www.facebook.com/nicki.mcminn/videos/1391957601751189

https://www.facebook.com/nicki.mcminn/videos/1097284687935829

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ldyjocelyn Campaign Manager

ldyjocelyn

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nicki's pictures from Fargo:

https://www.facebook.com/nicki.mcminn/posts/pfbid02ZKsfQKxL5Lt6oHP1QGrSwT4hCK32X7vXk4Md4sw6gAxAqaswnyNG8BeG9ex5ZeSnl?__cft__[0]=AZVOy0t3K8Xs9nq35nwGNheojr6FOj-Uqdihh3k0d3RqHVkmk4P4aUR3isAss3S99izNUzLgMlT_T98fi6PI0py2ubEKRKKaco1CZcb0CZJeo3h_E7xKqjni1G8aAJEGu3ZlEIq7rLwVOIGf76ToN9VGpXsHVDie0Y2rinoL79tMwQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

 

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ldyjocelyn

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The Omaha, Nebraska show has been cancelled.  This was one that was postponed from the second leg of the tour, and now finally cancelled — I believe it was supposed to be January 8?  (I’ll find out in a minute when I remove it from the timeline.) I’m thinking weather might have been an issue for this one this time, although not entirely sure.

Did mikki make it to the Minneapolis shows last night?  From what I’m reading, it was a small jazz club, no more than 250 seats.  They did two shows, so no costume changes, eliminted the boy band segment, and Clay didn’t sing UM.  Probably Ruben cut a song too.  I would have LOVED to have gone to that venue!

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