ldyjocelyn Posted July 2, 2024 Report Posted July 2, 2024 people.com All About Clay Aiken's Son Parker Foster Aiken Quote All About Clay Aiken's Son Parker Foster Aiken 'American Idol' alum Clay Aiken welcomed his first and only child, Parker, in 2008 By Francesca Gariano Published on July 2, 2024 10:49AM EDT Clay Aiken discusses 'Ruben & Clay's First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show' on November 16, 2018 in New York City. PHOTO: ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY Clay Aiken keeps his son, Parker Foster Aiken, out of the spotlight. The American Idol runner-up and his best friend, music producer Jaymes Foster, welcomed Parker in August 2008. Though Clay and Jaymes were not romantically linked, they made plans to raise their son together, and she became pregnant through in vitro fertilization. Over the years, Clay has seldom publicly commented about his son and doesn't often discuss him in interviews nor share photos of him on social media. Still, on the rare occasion when he does, Clay shares anecdotes about Parker and his personality behind the scenes. American Idol Winners: Who Won Each Season and Where Are They Now? After welcoming his son, the “Invisible” singer publicly came out as gay in a cover story for PEOPLE in September 2008. “It was the first decision I made as a father," he explained. "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn’t raised that way, and I’m not going to raise a child to do that.” Clay said that he and Jaymes would raise their son in an environment that was “accepting and allowing him to be happy.” He added, "No matter what the situation you’re in, if you’re raised in a loving environment, that’s the most important thing.” Here’s everything to know about Clay Aiken’s son, Parker Foster Aiken. He has a family name Clay Aiken and his mom Faye Aiken Parker arrive at the 2003 Billboard Music Awards. FRANK TRAPPER/CORBIS/GETTY Clay and Jaymes welcomed son Parker Foster Aiken on Aug. 8, 2008, at 8:08 a.m. in North Carolina. At the time, Clay’s mom, Faye Parker, told the local television station WRAL that her son was “smiling from ear-to-ear” about the birth of his child, who had “dark hair.” His parents are best friends Clay Aiken and Jaymes Foster attend the David Foster Dinner at Bon Appetit Supper Club and Cafe on October 29, 2008 in New York City. JEMAL COUNTESS/WIREIMAGE Clay and Jaymes were close friends when they decided to have a child together. They met when Clay competed on American Idol, and Jaymes later produced a few of his albums, including A Thousand Different Ways. The duo opened up to PEOPLE in September 2008 about their choice to co-parent Parker, with the singer noting that Jaymes had “always known that she wanted children.” Clay also had the same wish, saying, "I had always dreamed of it, but never really saw it as a possibility until this happened.” He shared that he didn’t “really remember whose idea it was” to have a kid together, adding, “It was one of those things where we were both thinking of it at the back of our heads.” Jaymes described Clay as “an incredible caregiver” who was “a natural” at changing diapers and helping lull Parker to sleep. “On a larger scale, he's the perfect person,” she said. “He’s been a school teacher, we have the same morals, family is very important to him and Parker means everything to us. His birth changed his dad’s life Clay Aiken performs at the KISS FM Jingle Ball 2003. MEDIANEWS GROUP/BOSTON HERALD/GETTY When asked during a June 2011 appearance on Innerviews about how the birth of his son transformed his life, Clay replied candidly, “I’m obviously used to only thinking about myself, and now I can’t do that.” “I have to make sure that I’m well aware of how my actions affect not just myself but my son and even beyond that,” the "Suspicious Mind" artist explained. “I went and bought a clean diesel after I had a child because I thought I needed to protect the earth now all of a sudden. I didn’t care about that before.” Clay noted that Parker's arrival changed “most of” his decisions and “everything” he did. “I actually find myself being a little less selfish than I have been in the past because of it," he added. He has a famous uncle and aunt Clay Aiken and David Foster during rehearsals in Vancouver for the David Foster Foundation charity fund raising gala. CHRISTOPHER MORRIS/CORBIS/GETTY In addition to his parents, Parker has other musically talented relatives. His mother’s brother is fellow producer David Foster, who wed American Idol alum Katharine McPhee in June 2019, making Parker her nephew. David spoke to AP Radio in April 2009 about his sister co-parenting a child with Clay. “She's very close with Clay, they're best friends," he said (via The Register Citizen). "It made perfect sense to me that he'd want to have a child with his best friend." At the time, the "Best of Me" vocalist referred to Clay as a “spectacular father" and Jaymes as “a natural mother.” He was not impressed by his dad’s singing as a child Clay Aiken performs onstage during the "Ruben & Clay: Twenty Years-One Night" tour on January 24, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. PARAS GRIFFIN/GETTY Unlike fans across America, Parker wasn't an instant fan of his dad's singing. “For some reason, I’m nervous to sing for him,” Clay told Popeater in June 2010. “My son doesn’t like to listen to me sing, but he enjoys listening to other people sing.” Parker has gotten more opportunities to see his father perform as he’s grown older: Clay reflected on the moments of his career his son has gotten to witness during an April 2023 interview with The Kokomo Post. Clay joked that Parker “could not be less impressed” by him but said that he was able to attend several performances of his Broadway production Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show in 2018 and “did actually love it.” “But the last time I was in concert, he was 4, so he’s actually never seen me in concert that he would remember,” Clay noted, referring to the decade-long break he took from touring. “So he’ll be at this one, and it’ll pretty much be his first time.” However, there was no guarantee he’d pay attention, with Clay joking, “He’ll be on his phone on TikTok during the whole show.” He’s not pursuing music Clay Aiken attends the Broadway preview photo call for "Ruben & Clay's First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant" on November 15, 2018 in New York City. WALTER MCBRIDE/GETTY While Clay told E! News in May 2024 that Parker used to sing "all the time,” it wasn’t something that he was looking to pursue as a career. Clay explained to the outlet, "He's chosen a different path. He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I'm excited for him.” However, if Parker were to change his mind, he would have plenty of musicians to turn to for advice. "My son's got a lot of not only music, but Idol in his veins," Clay added, noting that his uncle David, aunt Katharine and fellow American Idol alum Ruben Studdard were there for him. Clay would still support him if he wanted to sign up for the reality singing competition today. He explained, “I mean, I think that's what you're supposed to do is support whatever they want to do."
ldyjocelyn Posted August 7, 2024 Author Report Posted August 7, 2024 people.com Clay Aiken's Son Parker, 15, Looks All Grown Up — and Just Like His Dad — In His Television Debut on Celebrity Family Feud Quote Clay Aiken's Son Parker, 15, Looks All Grown Up — and Just Like His Dad — In His Television Debut on Celebrity Family Feud The 'American Idol' alum welcomed his only son Parker with his best friend Jaymes Foster in 2008 By Emma Aerin Becker Published on August 6, 2024 07:02PM EDT Clay Aiken’s son has made his TV debut! The American Idol runner-up, 45, and his family will participate in a game of Celebrity Family Feud in the Tuesday, Aug. 6 episode, against David Foster and fellow American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee Foster's crew. In a clip released on ABC's YouTube channel ahead of the episode's premiere, Aiken’s son Parker, 15, looks all grown up — and a lot like his dad! The musician introduced each of his family members to host Steve Harvey. He eventually got to Parker, whom Aiken welcomed with his best friend Jaymes Foster in 2008. "This is my son Parker making his TV debut," the proud dad said of his look-alike son. Clay Aiken (left) and Parker Aiken. DISNEY/Eric McCandless "What's up," Harvey exclaimed as he gave the teen a fist pump. Aiken also revealed that he and McPhee Foster, "are not just two American Idol runner-ups, but we got some Fosters on both sides of the aisle too." He then explains that Parker's mother Jaymes is also the sister of David, making this episode of Family Feud extra familial. "She's on the right team!" jokes Aiken. Clay Aiken and his family on 'Celebrity Family Feud'. DISNEY/Eric McCandless Back in May, Aiken told E! News that while Parker used to sing "all the time,” it wasn’t something that he was looking to pursue as a career. Aiken explained to the outlet, "He's chosen a different path. He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I'm excited for him.” "My son's got a lot of not only music, but Idol in his veins," Aiken added, noting that his uncle David, aunt Katharine and fellow American Idol alum Ruben Studdard were there for him. Aiken would still support him if he wanted to sign up for the reality singing competition today. “I mean, I think that's what you're supposed to do is support whatever they want to do," he explained. Celebrity Family Feud airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
ldyjocelyn Posted August 7, 2024 Author Report Posted August 7, 2024 justjared.com Clay Aiken's 15-Year-Old Son Parker Makes His TV Debut on 'Celebrity Family Feud' Quote Aug 06, 2024 at 11:40 pm By JJ Staff Clay Aiken's 15-Year-Old Son Parker Makes His TV Debut on 'Celebrity Family Feud' Clay Aiken‘s son Parker is stepping into the spotlight! On Tuesday (August 6), the 45-year-old American Idol season 2 runner-up and his family competed on Celebrity Family Feud against fellow American Idol alum Katharine McPhee Foster, her husband David Foster, and their crew. Joining Clay on his team was his 15-year-old son Parker, who was making his first television appearance. “This is my son Parker making his TV debut,” Clay said to host Steve Harvey, who greeted Parker with a fist pump. Clay welcomed Parker with his best friend friend Jaymes Foster in 2008. Jaymes, who competed alongside Clay and Parker on their team, is actually David‘s sister. During the intros on the show, Clay noted there “are not just two American Idol runner-ups, but we got some Fosters on both sides of the aisle too,” before he introduced Jaymes on his team. “She’s on the right team!” Clay joked. If you missed it, David shared an update on his and Katharine‘s 3-year-old son Rennie‘s musical journey after his drumming skills went viral.
ldyjocelyn Posted August 7, 2024 Author Report Posted August 7, 2024 usatoday.com Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin Quote Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin Taijuan Moorman USA TODAY The "American Idol" alum was joined by his son Parker Foster Aiken, 15, in the latter's television debut on "Celebrity Family Feud," which aired Tuesday. Along with Clay Aiken's mother and brother, he was also joined by Jaymes Foster, Parker's mother and Clay Aiken's best friend. The family went head-to-head against David Foster and Katharine McPhee's family in the hit "Family Feud" spin-off show hosted by Steve Harvey. The families are connected as well, as Jaymes Foster is David Foster's sister and David Foster has executive produced three of Aiken's albums. Parker got in a few clever answers, including clinching the win on the question, "Name a famous Tom that a girl would love to go to the prom with" by suggesting Tom Holland despite Harvey's skepticism. Aiken's family eventually took the win for their charity, the National Inclusion Project. Aiken first came to fame on Season 2 of "American Idol" and, like McPhee on Season 5, was runner-up. Aiken's season was won by Ruben Studdard, while McPhee's season was won by Taylor Hicks. Aiken first announced the birth of his son on his blog in 2008. "My dear friend, Jaymes, and I are so excited to announce the birth of Parker Foster Aiken," he wrote at the time. Soon after, Aiken came out as gay in a People magazine profile. Aiken has been open about how coming out so publicly has affected him. He told Rolling Stone, in a June investigation into allegations of LGBTQ discrimination against "American Idol," that he credits the show for introducing him to his first boyfriend and giving him room to figure things out. "If I had not done 'Idol,' I don’t even want to claim that I would not have come out," he said. "I hope to God that I would have, but I certainly would not have found that on my own for many, many more years." He also reflected on the years-long obsession over his sexuality before coming out. "I never did an interview where somebody was not trying to ask me if I was gay," he said. Verification of his sexual orientation "was the only thing that anybody in the press wanted." The fixation was everywhere, especially with comedians, he said. "If I heard anybody setting up a gay joke on a sitcom or a late-night show, I held my breath because I knew my name was coming," he said. "Eighty percent of the time I was right."
ldyjocelyn Posted August 10, 2024 Author Report Posted August 10, 2024 goodmorningamerica.com Clay Aiken's 15-year-old son looks just like him in debut TV appearance Quote Clay Aiken's 15-year-old son looks just like him in debut TV appearance By GMA Team August 07, 2024, 12:32 pm Clay Aiken's look-alike son Parker is all grown up. The 15-year-old joined his dad and other family members on Tuesday's episode of "Celebrity Family Feud" on ABC. As Aiken introduced each of his family members on the show, he said of his son, "This is my son Parker making his TV debut." Aiken and his family -- which also included his mom, brother and Parker's mom -- faced off against music producer David Foster and his wife Katharine McPhee. The Aiken family appears on "Celebrity Family Feud" on ABC. ABC News Both Aiken and McPhee are past runners-up on "American Idol," Aiken on season 2 of the hit singing competition show and McPhee on season 5. Aiken also revealed a closer connection between the two families when he introduced his own on the show. Parker's mom, Jaymes Foster, is David Foster's sister, according to Aiken. "David's sister Jaymes is on the right team. She wanted to win tonight," he said, with a laugh. Clay Aiken and his son Parker Aiken appear on "Celebrity Family Feud" on ABC. ABC News Others competing on the Foster family team included Amy Foster, Adriana McPhee and Brandon Jenner. Aiken told E! News in May that despite Parker's musical genes, he so far has not shown interest in pursuing a career in the music industry. "He's chosen a different path," Aiken said. "He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I'm excited for him." Parker Aiken appears on "Celebrity Family Feud" on ABC. ABC News Aiken added that he plans to support Parker in whatever path he chooses for himself, saying, "I think you have to do your best not to make plans for them, because they will always do something different."
ldyjocelyn Posted August 10, 2024 Author Report Posted August 10, 2024 nypost.com Clay Aiken’s son Parker, 15, makes TV debut on ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ — and competes against uncle David Foster Quote Clay Aiken’s son Parker, 15, makes TV debut on ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ — and competes against uncle David Foster By Eric Todisco Published Aug. 7, 2024, 4:41 p.m. ET Clay Aiken’s son is finally in the spotlight. The “American Idol” alum’s 15-year-old son, Parker, made his television debut on Tuesday’s episode of “Celebrity Family Feud.” Aiken, 45, was joined by Parker, Parker’s mom Jaymes, his mom Faye and his brother Brett on the game show. 12 Clay Aiken on “Celebrity Family Feud.”Disney 12 Parker Foster Aiken on “Celebrity Family Feud.”Disney Team Aiken faced off against Team Foster, made up of David Foster, his wife Katharine McPhee, his daughter Amy, McPhee’s sister Adriana and his stepson Brandon Jenner. Aiken pointed out to host Steve Harvey that there’s actually familial relations between the two teams. “We got a very mixed family up here on stage,” he said. 12 Clay Aiken and his family on “Celebrity Family Feud.”Disney 12 David Foster’s team on “Celebrity Family Feud.”Disney “We’re not just two ‘American Idol’ runners-up,” Aiken added, referring to himself and McPhee, 40, “but we’ve got some Fosters on both sounds of the aisle too.” Aiken introduced his family and explained that his son’s mother is David’s sister. “This is my son Parker, making his TV debut,” Aiken said about his teenage child. 12 Team Aiken.Disney Harvey, 67, was surprised to learn that Aiken’s son is related to the Foster family. “That’s David’s sister?” the comedian asked. “That’s David’s sister and David’s nephew, yes,” Aiken reiterated. “David’s sister Jaymes is on the right team. She wanted to win tonight. That’s why we are here,” he added. 12 Team Foster.Disney 12 Steve Harvey, David Foster and Katharine McPhee.Disney Harvey greeted Parker with a fist bump and joked that the teen is going to get attention from “girls at the school.” “Boy, Parker when this airs, woo,” Harvey said. After a competitive game, Team Aiken defeated Team Foster and won $25,000 for their choice of charity, the National Inclusion Project. 12 Team Aiken.Disney BFFs Aiken and Jaymes became parents to Parker in 2008. “Clay’s a natural,” Jaymes said about the “American Idol” Season 2 star in an interview with People after their son was born. She added, “On a larger scale, he’s the perfect person. He’s been a school teacher, we have the same morals, family is very important to him and Parker means everything to us.” 12 Clay Aiken on the cover of People Magazine in 2008.AP In May, Aiken told E! News that while Parker used to sing “all the time,” he doesn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the music industry. “He’s chosen a different path,” Aiken explained. “He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I’m excited for him.” The “Measure of a Man” singer pointed out his son has “American Idol” and music “in his veins.” 12 Clay Aiken in 2003.Getty Images “His uncle is David Foster, the producer. So his aunt is Katharine McPhee,” he said, adding, “So Parker has got a dad and an aunt [in the industry]. But he wanted to do something else. Had he wanted to sign up? Sure. I mean, I think that’s what you’re supposed to do is support whatever they want to do.” Foster, 74, and McPhee met on Season 5 of “American Idol” in 2006. They tied the knot in 2019 and welcomed a son in 2021. 12 David Foster, Katharine McPhee on July 19, 2024.Getty Images for Mercury Studios Before McPhee, Foster was married four times, including to Linda Thompson (from 1991 to 2005), the ex-wife of Caitlyn Jenner (then Bruce Jenner), and Yolanda Hadid (from 2011 to 2017), the mother of models Gigi and Bella Hadid. 12 David Foster and Katharine McPhee at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.Getty Images Foster recently came under fire for a resurfaced video of him calling McPhee “fat” from a concert performance of the couple’s first show together. The famous music producer and his wife have not spoken out about the controversy.
ldyjocelyn Posted August 10, 2024 Author Report Posted August 10, 2024 usmagazine.com ‘American Idol’ Alum Clay Aiken’s Son Parker, 15, Makes His TV Debut on ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ Quote ‘American Idol’ Alum Clay Aiken’s Son Parker, 15, Makes His TV Debut on ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ By Miranda Siwak August 7, 2024 Clay Aiken’s son, Parker, is growing up and stepping into the spotlight. Aiken, 45, appeared on the Tuesday, August 6, episode of Celebrity Family Feud, bringing along his 15-year-old son to help win money for charity. “This is my son Parker making his TV debut,” the American Idol alum told host Steve Harvey, pointing to the teenager. Aiken’s team — which also consisted of his mother, brother and Parker’s mom, Jaymes Foster — competed against David Foster and wife Katharine McPhee. Jaymes, 66, is also the younger sister of music producer David, 74. “David’s sister Jaymes is on the right team. She wanted to win tonight,” Aiken quipped on Family Feud. Aiken and Jaymes, the singer’s longtime friend, welcomed their son in August 2008. Aiken later told Us Weekly how fatherhood changed his life. “I feel a little more mature and substantially older. I realized on Father’s Day, ‘Oh wait, I don’t have to do anything for Father’s Day, it is for me!’” Aiken exclusively told Us in June 2010. “It’s strange to think about that. I enjoy also the quiet of living in North Carolina still and then I come back here to New York a good chunk of the time, at least a week a month doing [press]. I’m a fan of New York. People are a little more grounded here.” At the time, Aiken admitted that it wasn’t “that hard” balancing his music career with parenthood. “We’ve been pretty well. Anybody who has a kid has to juggle everything. So it’s not that much different,” he said. “We have a nice system that we work out between when he’s with her and he’s with me and we’re together and all that stuff. It’s been really authentic.” Since then, Parker has carved his own path outside of the spotlight. “He’s chosen a different path,” Aiken told E! News in May. “He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I’m excited for him. My son’s got a lot of not only music, but Idol in his veins.” Aiken appeared on season 2 of American Idol, finishing in second place behind Ruben Studdard. Despite an “in” on the reality TV competition, Parker hasn’t been interested in auditioning. “Parker has got a dad and an aunt [Katharine McPhee], and with Ruben, an uncle, who all were on American Idol,” Clay said. “But he wanted to do something else. Had he wanted to sign up? Sure. I mean, I think that’s what you’re supposed to do is support whatever they want to do.”
ldyjocelyn Posted August 10, 2024 Author Report Posted August 10, 2024 today.com Clay Aiken's lookalike son, 15, makes TV debut on 'Celebrity Family Feud' Quote Clay Aiken's lookalike son, 15, makes TV debut on 'Celebrity Family Feud' Aiken and his family members competed against fellow "American Idol" alum Katharine McPhee and her husband, David Foster, on "Celebrity Family Feud." Clay Aiken, left, and his son, Parker, appeared together on "Celebrity Family Feud."DISNEY / Eric McCandless Aug. 7, 2024, 5:44 PM CDT / Source: TODAY By Gina Vivinetto Clay Aiken's and his lookalike teen son, Parker, may have caused viewers do a double take when they showed up to compete together on the Aug. 6 episode of "Celebrity Family Feud." The “American Idol” runner-up, 45, proudly introduced Parker, who turned 16 on Aug. 8, to host Steve Harvey. "This is my son Parker making his TV debut," Aiken said as Parker smiled. The father-and-son duo joined forces with Aiken’s mom, Faye, his brother, Brett, and his best friend, Jaymes Foster, who is Parker's mom. Aiken’s team took on an opposing team led by his fellow “American Idol” runner-up Katharine McPhee and her husband, famed music producer David Foster. Special connections between the two teams made the feuding even more familial: David Foster is the brother of Jaymes Foster. He and McPhee are Parker's uncle and aunt. David Foster has also produced several albums for Aiken. Aiken, who competed alongside "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard on "The Masked Singer" last season, told E! News in May 2024 that Parker has no plans to follow him — or his Aunt Katharine — into a singing career. “He’s chosen a different path,” Aiken said during a joint interview with Studdard. “He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I’m excited for him.” Had Parker wanted to audition to be a contestant on "Idol," Aiken said he would have backed him all the way. "Sure. I mean, I think that’s what you’re supposed to do is support whatever they want to do," said the singer. “I think you have to do your best not to make plans for them,” he added, “because they will always do something different.”
ldyjocelyn Posted August 21, 2024 Author Report Posted August 21, 2024 thelist.com Clay Aiken's Son Is Growing Up To Be His Twin Quote Clay Aiken's Son Is Growing Up To Be His Twin By Kristin ConardAug. 20, 2024 8:30 am EST Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images Clay Aiken first rocketed to fame as a contestant on Season 2 of "American Idol," when the Raleigh, North Carolina native came in second while Ruben Studdard won "American Idol." More than 20 years later, Aiken is now father to a teenager who is basically his doppelganger. Parker Foster Aiken joined his dad on an August 2024 episode of "Celebrity Family Feud," marking Parker's first TV appearance. Even though Aiken has admitted to having had plastic surgery after his time on "American Idol," when you look at pictures of him from the reality show next to footage of Parker, you can definitely see the family resemblance. Parker's basically got the same cheekbones and chin as his dad along with a similarly big, bright smile. It was a full family affair on Aiken's "Celebrity Family Feud" episode with familial connections between the opposing teams. Parker's mother, Jaymes Foster, was on the Aiken team, as were Clay's mom Faye Parker and his brother Brett Parker. They were playing against Katharine McPhee and her family, and McPhee is married to David Foster, the famous music producer who is also Jaymes' brother. Small world! Fans online were amazed at Parker Aiken's resemblance to his dad Clay Some fans online went crazy when they realized — or maybe remembered — that Clay Aiken had a teenage son after watching the "Celebrity Family Feud" episode. "So sitting here watching Family Feud Celebrity Musician edition & I must've missed a few chapters because Clay Aiken has a 15-year-old son, Parker, who is his mini me," one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Others raved about how alike the two looked, and some really loved just how tightly Parker Foster Aiken hugged his dad after the show ended. (*Spoiler alert — the Aiken family won.) The show aired just two days before Parker's 16th birthday. Jaymes Foster was 50 when Parker was born while Clay was 29. The two used IVF to conceive, and in an interview with People when Parker was just seven weeks old, Foster talked about the bond that she and Clay shared. "We love each other dearly and deeply as friends, but I think as parents now, there's an even greater bond, certainly for me," she said. "Our job is to remain best friends for the rest of our lives and that's the most important thing for Parker." Clearly the two have stayed close, and we love to see it. Parker Aiken's birth inspired Clay and he supports his son's dreams It was Parker Aiken's birth that helped inspire his father Clay Aiken to publicly come out as gay. In a September 2008 issue of People, in which Clay is seen cradling his newborn son on the cover, he said that coming out, "was the first decision I made as a father. I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that." Despite (or perhaps because of?) having parents involved in the music industry, Parker isn't planning on pursuing that as a career, and it sounds like his dad is 100% OK with that and supporting him no matter what. "He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I'm excited for him," Clay told E! News. Clay himself pivoted for a bit from singing to politics, running for U.S. Congress in North Carolina in 2014 and 2022. In 2023, he returned to his "American Idol" roots by going on a short tour with Ruben Studdard. In an interview before the tour with Studdard, Clay talked about how excited he was for Parker to see him in concert and remember it — he hadn't done any concerts since his son was four. Read More: https://www.thelist.com/1645152/clay-aiken-son-growing-up-to-be-twin/
ldyjocelyn Posted September 3, 2024 Author Report Posted September 3, 2024 playbill.com Lea Salonga Releasing New Holiday Album, Sounding Joy Quote Lea Salonga Releasing New Holiday Album, Sounding Joy The record, which includes a duet with American Idol star Clay Aiken, will be her first holiday album in two decades. By Margaret Hall September 03, 2024 Lea Salonga Danny Kahn Tony winner Lea Salonga will release a new holiday album, Sounding Joy, later this year. Her first holiday record in two decades, Sounding Joy will be available digitally and on CD from Center Stage Records November 1. Salonga's previous holiday record, The Christmas Album, was released in 2001. Sounding Joy can be pre-ordered now at Amazon, and a limited number of signed albums are available exclusively at CenterStageRecords.com. The studio release reimagines classic Christmas standards, introduces new original songs, and features a duet with American Idol superstar Clay Aiken. Take a look at the full track list: 1. Christmas Time / The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 2. Sleigh Ride 3. River 4. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) 5. Last Christmas 6. Christmas on Broadway 7. All I Want for Christmas is You 8. Love is Our Christmas Star 9. What Child is This / Silent Night 10. I’ll Be Home for Christmas 11. This Christmas 12. Angels We Have Heard (Glory Be) – with Clay Aiken “We are so thrilled to reunite with Lea, having previously worked with her on Once On This Isand, Allegiance, and her live album with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra," shared Van Dean, Center Stage Records president in a statement. "There’s something so special about pairing her voice with these songs. We can’t wait for everyone to hear the magic that Lea and her musicians have created.” In support of the album, Salonga will tour this winter, making stops in San Francisco, San Diego, Northridge, Scottsdale, and New York. For more information, visit LeaSalonga.com.
ldyjocelyn Posted October 8, 2024 Author Report Posted October 8, 2024 philstar.com Clay Aiken joins Lea Salonga's 'Stage, Screen & Everything in Between' Manila concert, adds 3rd show Quote Clay Aiken joins Lea Salonga's 'Stage, Screen & Everything in Between' Manila concert, adds 3rd show Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com October 8, 2024 | 1:43pm Composite photos of Clay Aiken and Lea Salonga Released MANILA, Philippines — Award-winning actress-singer Lea Salonga is adding a third night to her "Stage, Screen, and Everything in Between" concert in Manila next month. After performing the show around the United Kingdom, Lea announced she'd take the stage of The Theatre at Solaire on November 4 and 5 (both dates at 8 p.m.) accompanied her brother and accomplished conductor Gerard Salonga as musical director. Both dates sold out, prompting the addition of another performance night on November 7, still at 8 p.m. Participating in all three shows as a special guest is singer-actor Clay Aiken, best known as the runner-up on the second season of "American Idol." "Who knows, there might be a couple of musical surprises just in time for Christmas," Lea teased in a statement. "We cannot wait to perform this show for audiences in Manila!" Tickets for the November 7 show will be available at Solaire Box Office and the Ticketworld website beginning October 9 at 6 p.m. "Stage, Screen, and Everything in Between" features Lea performing tracks from "Miss Saigon," "Aladdin," "Mulan," "Les Miserables," "Sweeney Todd," "The Greatest Showman" and "Waitress," as well as songs by the late Stephen Sondheim. The show will take place after Lea finishes her return to Manila theater acting in the one-woman show "Request sa Radyo" where she alternate with fellow award-winning actress Dolly de Leon.
ldyjocelyn Posted October 16, 2024 Author Report Posted October 16, 2024 October 16 billboard.com Clay Aiken Returning to Music a Decade Later With New Holiday Album ‘Christmas Bells Are Ringing’ Quote Clay Aiken Returning to Music a Decade Later With New Holiday Album ‘Christmas Bells Are Ringing’ The American Idol alum shares a taste of what's to come with his crooning rendition of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" By Stephen Daw Clay AikenCurtis Brown Photography For anyone aching to start the holiday season early, Clay Aiken is here to deliver tidings of comfort and joy. On Wednesday (Oct. 16), the American Idol alum announced his new holiday album, Christmas Bells Are Ringing, due Friday, Nov. 22. Reimagining 10 classic holiday songs in his signature soulful style, Aiken’s LP will mark his first full-length release in over a decade. “It’s been a while, but it feels like the right time to release this album. The whole world is a mess these days, so I think we could all use a bit more of the kindness and cheer that comes with the holiday season,” Aiken tells Billboard in an exclusive statement. “The holidays have taken on a different meaning for me over these past 15 years as a father. I’m excited to share that Christmas spirit with this album.” Aiken is also offering fans a tease of what’s to come with his new rendition of the Christmas classic “Do You Hear What I Hear,” made popular by Bing Crosby. Revitalizing the Christmas anthem, Aiken said in a statement that he wanted to share a song that offered people hope in a year of intense divisiveness. “The whole American political climate over the past few years hasn’t really given us much in the way of hope or optimism,” he said. “As much as I wanted to believe I might be able to make some positive change in that world, I’ve realized that music often does a better job of that.” The album is set to feature a slew a holiday classics, including the Carpenters’ “Merry Christmas, Darling,” Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and even Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” In the 12 years since Aiken’s last studio album, 2012’s Steadfast, Aiken has set his aspirations to other fields: In 2022, the singer ran for the Democratic nomination in North Carolina’s 6th Congressional district, stating that he was inspired to run after seeing North Carolina’s lieutenant governor Mark Robinson ask “What is the purpose of homosexuality?” during a speech and wanting people in office “to start acting like grown-ups instead of children.” Aiken ultimately lost his primary to Rep. Valerie Foushee, who went on to win the seat. Listen to Aiken’s rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear” and see the full track list for his upcoming holiday album below: Clay Aiken’s Christmas Bells Are Ringing tracklist: Merry Christmas, Darling It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Caroling, Caroling Do You Hear What I Hear? Pure Imagination Ave Maria All Year Long Wonderful Christmastime Magic Moments On This Silent Night
Clay AikenCurtis Brown Photography For anyone aching to start the holiday season early, Clay Aiken is here to deliver tidings of comfort and joy. On Wednesday (Oct. 16), the American Idol alum announced his new holiday album, Christmas Bells Are Ringing, due Friday, Nov. 22. Reimagining 10 classic holiday songs in his signature soulful style, Aiken’s LP will mark his first full-length release in over a decade. “It’s been a while, but it feels like the right time to release this album. The whole world is a mess these days, so I think we could all use a bit more of the kindness and cheer that comes with the holiday season,” Aiken tells Billboard in an exclusive statement. “The holidays have taken on a different meaning for me over these past 15 years as a father. I’m excited to share that Christmas spirit with this album.” Aiken is also offering fans a tease of what’s to come with his new rendition of the Christmas classic “Do You Hear What I Hear,” made popular by Bing Crosby. Revitalizing the Christmas anthem, Aiken said in a statement that he wanted to share a song that offered people hope in a year of intense divisiveness. “The whole American political climate over the past few years hasn’t really given us much in the way of hope or optimism,” he said. “As much as I wanted to believe I might be able to make some positive change in that world, I’ve realized that music often does a better job of that.” The album is set to feature a slew a holiday classics, including the Carpenters’ “Merry Christmas, Darling,” Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and even Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” In the 12 years since Aiken’s last studio album, 2012’s Steadfast, Aiken has set his aspirations to other fields: In 2022, the singer ran for the Democratic nomination in North Carolina’s 6th Congressional district, stating that he was inspired to run after seeing North Carolina’s lieutenant governor Mark Robinson ask “What is the purpose of homosexuality?” during a speech and wanting people in office “to start acting like grown-ups instead of children.” Aiken ultimately lost his primary to Rep. Valerie Foushee, who went on to win the seat. Listen to Aiken’s rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear” and see the full track list for his upcoming holiday album below: Clay Aiken’s Christmas Bells Are Ringing tracklist: Merry Christmas, Darling It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Caroling, Caroling Do You Hear What I Hear? Pure Imagination Ave Maria All Year Long Wonderful Christmastime Magic Moments On This Silent Night
ldyjocelyn Posted October 16, 2024 Author Report Posted October 16, 2024 shorefire.com Clay Aiken Returns To Music After Over a Decade With New Holiday Album ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing’ Out November 22nd 16 October, 2024Print Quote Clay Aiken Returns To Music After Over a Decade With New Holiday Album ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing’ Out November 22nd Aiken’s Rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Out Now Listen HERE (New York NY) October 16th 2024 – Multi-platinum recording artist Clay Aiken is back with a stunning new version of the Bing Crosby classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” the first single from his highly anticipated Christmas album ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing,’ set to be released on November 22nd. Aiken’s unique interpretation infuses the classic carol with his signature vocal warmth and emotional depth making it a song for our times. Written in 1962 by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is timeless in its message, yet even more resonant today. Aiken reflects, “The whole American political climate over the past few years hasn't really given us much in the way of hope or optimism. As much as I wanted to believe I might be able to make some positive change in that world, I've realized that music often does a better job of that.” Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Ron Fair, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is the first release from Aiken’s first studio album in over a decade, following a hiatus from music which found Aiken running for Congressional office in North Carolina, and raising his now teenage son. The album, ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing’, marks a return to the holiday music that solidified Aiken’s place as a household name in 2004, when his debut holiday album Merry Christmas With Love broke records, selling nearly 300,000 copies in its first week. That album went platinum, becoming the best-selling holiday album of 2004 and earning Aiken three Billboard Music Awards. The new record boasts fresh takes on holiday staples like Nat King Cole’s “Caroling, Caroling” and Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”, as well as a lush reinvention of “Merry Christmas, Darling” by the Carpenters (one of Clay’s musical inspirations) and a show-stopping rendition of “Pure Imagination” which reimagines the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory-classic as a fitting soundtrack for the holiday season. Clay Aiken is also set to perform at Sonic Sunshine’s special live-stream benefit event on October 18th, aimed at providing much-needed support and encouragement to those affected by the recent hurricanes. You can find more info HERE. Clay Aiken’s rise to stardom began in 2003 as the runner-up on season two of American Idol. His debut single, “This Is the Night” debuted at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, while his debut album Measure of a Man was certified triple platinum. Aiken has since sold millions of albums, launched national tours, starred on Broadway, and made his mark as a philanthropist and politician. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Merry Christmas With Love, Clay Aiken’s new album, ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing,’ promises to bring the same joy and spirit to listeners, making it the perfect soundtrack for the 2024 holiday season. TRACK LISTING FOR ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing’ Merry Christmas, Darling It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Caroling, Caroling Do You Hear What I Hear? Pure Imagination Ave Maria All Year Long Wonderful Christmastime Magic Moments On This Silent Night ABOUT CLAY AIKEN Clay Aiken most recently joined forces with friend and fellow American Idol Ruben Studdard for a highly anticipated North American, 82-date concert tour, reuniting the pair twenty years after their appearance on the show. Clay starred on Broadway in Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show at the Imperial Theater. The New York Times called the production ‘A Christmas Miracle’. This came ten years after Clay’s critically lauded Broadway debut in Monty Python's Spamalot. Catapulting to fame on season two of American Idol, he became the first Idol alum in history to have his first single debut at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, to have a single certified platinum and to have an album certified triple platinum. As a concert artist he’s played some of the most iconic venues in North America, including on the 2003 Independent Tour which Clay co-headlined with Kelly Clarkson. Clay’s album, Measure Of A Man, also debuted at #1 with the highest first week sales by a debut artist. His 2004 holiday release, Merry Christmas With Love, set a record for the fastest selling holiday album of the SoundScan era and remains tied for the highest charting debut of a holiday album in Billboard history. He served 9 years as a UNICEF Ambassador and in 2003, he co-founded, with Diane Bubel, what is now the National Inclusion Project to advocate and increase opportunities for children with disabilities to be included in extracurricular activities (such as summer camps and after-school programs) with their non-disabled peers. Additional TV appearances include: 30 Rock, The Office, Scrubs, Days Of Our Lives, and Law & Order: SVU. Additional 2nd place finishes include: The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012 and the NC 2nd District US House race in 2014. Beyond all of his successes (and near successes) his proudest accomplishment remains his son, Parker.
ldyjocelyn Posted October 18, 2024 Author Report Posted October 18, 2024 broadwayworld.com Clay Aiken Previews New Holiday Album; First Music in Over a Decade Quote Clay Aiken Previews New Holiday Album; First Music in Over a Decade His new Christmas album will be released on November 22nd. By: Josh Sharpe Oct. 17, 2024 Multi-platinum recording artist Clay Aiken is back with a stunning new version of the Bing Crosby classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” the first single from his highly anticipated Christmas album ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing,’ set to be released on November 22nd. Aiken’s unique interpretation infuses the classic carol with his signature vocal warmth and emotional depth making it a song for our times. Written in 1962 by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is timeless in its message, yet even more resonant today. Aiken reflects, “The whole American political climate over the past few years hasn't really given us much in the way of hope or optimism. As much as I wanted to believe I might be able to make some positive change in that world, I've realized that music often does a better job of that.” Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Ron Fair, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is the first release from Aiken’s first studio album in over a decade, following a hiatus from music which found Aiken running for Congressional office in North Carolina, and raising his now teenage son. The album, ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing’, marks a return to the holiday music that solidified Aiken’s place as a household name in 2004, when his debut holiday album Merry Christmas With Love broke records, selling nearly 300,000 copies in its first week. That album went platinum, becoming the best-selling holiday album of 2004 and earning Aiken three Billboard Music Awards. The new record boasts fresh takes on holiday staples like Nat King Cole’s “Caroling, Caroling” and Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”, as well as a lush reinvention of “Merry Christmas, Darling” by the Carpenters (one of Clay’s musical inspirations) and a show-stopping rendition of “Pure Imagination” which reimagines the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory-classic as a fitting soundtrack for the holiday season. Clay Aiken is also set to perform at Sonic Sunshine’s special live-stream benefit event on October 18th, aimed at providing much-needed support and encouragement to those affected by the recent hurricanes. You can find more info HERE. Clay Aiken’s rise to stardom began in 2003 as the runner-up on season two of American Idol. His debut single, “This Is the Night” debuted at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, while his debut album Measure of a Man was certified triple platinum. Aiken has since sold millions of albums, launched national tours, starred on Broadway, and made his mark as a philanthropist and politician. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Merry Christmas With Love, Clay Aiken’s new album, ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing,’ promises to bring the same joy and spirit to listeners, making it the perfect soundtrack for the 2024 holiday season. TRACK LISTING FOR ‘Christmas Bells are Ringing’ Merry Christmas, Darling It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Caroling, Caroling Do You Hear What I Hear? Pure Imagination Ave Maria All Year Long Wonderful Christmastime Magic Moments On This Silent Night ABOUT CLAY AIKEN Clay Aiken most recently joined forces with friend and fellow American Idol Ruben Studdard for a highly anticipated North American, 82-date concert tour, reuniting the pair twenty years after their appearance on the show. Clay starred on Broadway in Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show at the Imperial Theater. The New York Times called the production ‘A Christmas Miracle’. This came ten years after Clay’s critically lauded Broadway debut in Monty Python's Spamalot. Catapulting to fame on season two of American Idol, he became the first Idol alum in history to have his first single debut at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, to have a single certified platinum and to have an album certified triple platinum. As a concert artist he’s played some of the most iconic venues in North America, including on the 2003 Independent Tour which Clay co-headlined with Kelly Clarkson. Clay’s album, Measure Of A Man, also debuted at #1 with the highest first week sales by a debut artist. His 2004 holiday release, Merry Christmas With Love, set a record for the fastest selling holiday album of the SoundScan era and remains tied for the highest charting debut of a holiday album in Billboard history. He served 9 years as a UNICEF Ambassador and in 2003, he co-founded, with Diane Bubel, what is now the National Inclusion Project to advocate and increase opportunities for children with disabilities to be included in extracurricular activities (such as summer camps and after-school programs) with their non-disabled peers. Additional TV appearances include: 30 Rock, The Office, Scrubs, Days Of Our Lives, and Law & Order: SVU. Additional 2nd place finishes include: The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012 and the NC 2nd District US House race in 2014. Beyond all of his successes (and near successes) his proudest accomplishment remains his son, Parker.
ldyjocelyn Posted October 30, 2024 Author Report Posted October 30, 2024 billboard.com Blake Shelton, Backstreet Boys & More to Appear on ‘United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief’ Quote Blake Shelton, Backstreet Boys & More to Appear on ‘United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief’ The one-hour special will air on Saturday (Nov. 2) on CBS and CMT. By Paul Grein 10/30/2024 Performances by Brittney Spencer, Chris Janson, Clay Aiken, Jonathan McReynolds and Tyler Hubbard highlight the United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief, a one-hour special which is set to air on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and CMT. Proceeds from the special, which was taped Oct. 27-28 in Nashville, will raise funds for relief and recovery followin Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused an estimated $50 billion in damage. The special will also include “messages and appearances” by Backstreet Boys, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Burke, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cedric The Entertainer, Cody Alan, Jackson Dean, JB SMOOVE, Kelsea Ballerini, Max Thieriot, Nate Burleson, Stephen Colbert, Taye Diggs and Zac Brown Band. The United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief special is produced by Black & Bespoke (executive producer Myiea Coy), 5X Media (executive producers Gil Goldschein and Maria Pepin), Digital Cinema Collective (executive producer Aaron Cooke) and Berman Productions (executive producer Al Berman) for CBS and CMT. The special was created by Byron V. Garrett, chief revenue officer at United Way Worldwide, and Melissa C. Potter, executive director of Content for Change at Paramount Global. In the last four years, United Way around the world has responded to more than 200 disasters, including droughts, water crises, hurricanes, fires and floods, and mobilized resources by facilitating more than $219 million in outside investments to support local needs. Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will be able to stream the show live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
Performances by Brittney Spencer, Chris Janson, Clay Aiken, Jonathan McReynolds and Tyler Hubbard highlight the United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief, a one-hour special which is set to air on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and CMT. Proceeds from the special, which was taped Oct. 27-28 in Nashville, will raise funds for relief and recovery followin Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused an estimated $50 billion in damage. The special will also include “messages and appearances” by Backstreet Boys, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Burke, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cedric The Entertainer, Cody Alan, Jackson Dean, JB SMOOVE, Kelsea Ballerini, Max Thieriot, Nate Burleson, Stephen Colbert, Taye Diggs and Zac Brown Band. The United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief special is produced by Black & Bespoke (executive producer Myiea Coy), 5X Media (executive producers Gil Goldschein and Maria Pepin), Digital Cinema Collective (executive producer Aaron Cooke) and Berman Productions (executive producer Al Berman) for CBS and CMT. The special was created by Byron V. Garrett, chief revenue officer at United Way Worldwide, and Melissa C. Potter, executive director of Content for Change at Paramount Global. In the last four years, United Way around the world has responded to more than 200 disasters, including droughts, water crises, hurricanes, fires and floods, and mobilized resources by facilitating more than $219 million in outside investments to support local needs. Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will be able to stream the show live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
ldyjocelyn Posted October 30, 2024 Author Report Posted October 30, 2024 hollywoodreporter.com Blake Shelton, Backstreet Boys to Headline Hurricane Relief Benefit for CBS, CMT Quote Blake Shelton, Backstreet Boys to Headline Hurricane Relief Benefit for CBS, CMT United Way Worldwide and Paramount Global will partner to raise recovery funds during a one-hour TV special on Nov. 2 after hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated states in the southeast U.S. By Etan Vlessing October 30, 2024 7:00am Clean-up efforts after Hurricane Helene. Jim WATSON / AFP Backstreet Boys, Blake Shelton, Taye Diggs, Stephen Colbert and Kelsea Ballerini are among the stars coming together for a Helene and Milton hurricane relief benefit set for Nov. 2 on CBS and CMT. The one-hour special designed to raise recovery funds for those impacted by recent hurricanes in southeastern U.S. states will be hosted by Paramount Global for the disaster relief United Way Worldwide organization. Billy Bob Thornton, Tyler Hubbard, Billy Burke, Brittney Spencer, Clay Aiken, Cedric The Entertainer, Chris Janson, Max Thieriot, Nate Burleson and Zac Brown Band are also among guests set to make an appearance during the benefit that will stream live on Paramount + with Showtime. Hurricanes Helene and Milton are estimated to have caused around $50 billion in damage and clean-up and relief efforts continue. The TV special was taped this past weekend in Nashville. “Paramount Global and its brands are proud to collaborate with United Way Worldwide on the United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief in reaching audiences across the U.S. to help those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” Melissa C. Potter, executive director of content for change at Paramount Global and a United Way Worldwide board of trustee, said in a statement. The CBS and CMT special comes after stars like Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively and Dolly Parton have made sizeable donations to support disaster relief efforts after hurricanes Helene and Milton had devastating impacts on Florida and North Carolina. The United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief was created by Byron V. Garrett, chief revenue officer at United Way Worldwide, and Paramount Global’s Potter. The special is produced by Black & Bespoke, 5X Media, Digital Cinema Collective and Berman Productions for CBS and CMT.
Clean-up efforts after Hurricane Helene. Jim WATSON / AFP Backstreet Boys, Blake Shelton, Taye Diggs, Stephen Colbert and Kelsea Ballerini are among the stars coming together for a Helene and Milton hurricane relief benefit set for Nov. 2 on CBS and CMT. The one-hour special designed to raise recovery funds for those impacted by recent hurricanes in southeastern U.S. states will be hosted by Paramount Global for the disaster relief United Way Worldwide organization. Billy Bob Thornton, Tyler Hubbard, Billy Burke, Brittney Spencer, Clay Aiken, Cedric The Entertainer, Chris Janson, Max Thieriot, Nate Burleson and Zac Brown Band are also among guests set to make an appearance during the benefit that will stream live on Paramount + with Showtime. Hurricanes Helene and Milton are estimated to have caused around $50 billion in damage and clean-up and relief efforts continue. The TV special was taped this past weekend in Nashville. “Paramount Global and its brands are proud to collaborate with United Way Worldwide on the United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief in reaching audiences across the U.S. to help those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” Melissa C. Potter, executive director of content for change at Paramount Global and a United Way Worldwide board of trustee, said in a statement. The CBS and CMT special comes after stars like Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively and Dolly Parton have made sizeable donations to support disaster relief efforts after hurricanes Helene and Milton had devastating impacts on Florida and North Carolina. The United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief was created by Byron V. Garrett, chief revenue officer at United Way Worldwide, and Paramount Global’s Potter. The special is produced by Black & Bespoke, 5X Media, Digital Cinema Collective and Berman Productions for CBS and CMT.
ldyjocelyn Posted November 13, 2024 Author Report Posted November 13, 2024 variety.com Clay Aiken Returns to Music: ‘American Idol’ Star on Why the Reality Singing Series Got Too Soft, Shawn Mendes and His Hope for Donald Trump Quote Clay Aiken Returns to Music: ‘American Idol’ Star on Why the Reality Singing Series Got Too Soft, Shawn Mendes and His Hope for Donald Trump By Rebecca Rubin Curtis Brown Photography Halloween is over, so it’s officially time to break out the eggnog and dust off those Christmas CDs. At least that’s the rule for Clay Aiken, the “American Idol” runner-up whose new album “Christmas Bells Are Ringing” drops on Nov. 22. “Once the jack-o’-lanterns are gone, it’s time to go,” the North Carolina native says in via Zoom, in his signature Southern drawl. The album marks Aiken’s first since 2004’s chart-topper “Merry Christmas With Love.” In between, the 45-year-old competed on “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2012, ran (and lost) twice for Congress and toured with “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard. “I’ve spent the last 10 years in the political world, and I’m cured of that,” Aiken says. “I wanted to get back to doing what I loved.” Are you prepared to talk about Christmas for two months? I love Christmas, but it does start earlier and earlier. I haven’t put out an album in so long that doing press in general is new. By the way, did Shawn Mendes come out today? Have you seen this video on his Instagram? I didn’t finish watching it because I looked at the time and I was like, “Oh God, I gotta get on the computer.” So I don’t know if he really did. I shouldn’t out him if he didn’t. No, I didn’t see it. How do you feel about people speculating about his sexuality? I feel like no one has speculated about shit since 2000 — since I went through that crap. I joke that after I came out publicly, it stopped being a story. I don’t know that anybody has had press in that way, like tabloid stories or questions by Diane Sawyer. Why is that? Hell, I don’t know. Maybe people got bored after going through six years of it with me. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ended in 2011 so America came to terms with us gays a little better. We have insisted our media become more empathetic. Press can’t invade in the way they used to be able to invade. And that’s great. But I didn’t mean to derail this. It just came up on my screen right before I turned on the computer. Right, we are here to talk about “Christmas Bells Are Ringing.” What makes a good Christmas album? A good Christmas album doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Mariah Carey reinvented it with “All I Want for Christmas,” and that became the most iconic Christmas song ever. Outside of that, Christmas is about tradition. What were you trying to capture with this set list? I can’t say I grew up loving Perry Como and Andy Williams — I’m not quite that old — but those albums stand the test of time. Christmas is supposed to be cozy. What made the timing right for this? I’ve spent the last 10 years in the political world, and I’m cured of that. I got to a place where I couldn’t stomach the political thing. Everybody’s music at some point becomes dated, but Christmas survives. If I’m going to be gone for 15-to-20 years, I want to come back to something that’s timeless. Will you take this album on tour? Next year. I haven’t been performing for years. So I’m going to spend this year reminding people that I can sing and I’m still around. What’s your favorite part of touring? Oh, God. Do I have a favorite? Touring was part of why I stopped. Not because I don’t like it, but when your hobby becomes your job, you stop. Does it get tiring to perform the same songs each night? We’re not working the third shift at the factory. Yes, it can be exhausting, but people are cheering you on. Once things become routine, you can find ways to make it fresh. You became a household name after “American Idol.” Do reality singing competitions today have the same cultural impact? Probably not. Things became very saturated. We don’t watch TV the same way we used to. We watch social media and streaming. It’s tough, if not impossible, to get everybody watching the same thing. Has anything from your “Idol” days stuck with you? Back in the day when the judges were actually tough, it prepared us for interviews or press that were negative or critical. It gives you thick skin. I was criticized on that show so much, I can’t believe I made it to the end. If you’re told by someone in front of 40 million viewers live on national TV that they prefer you with their eyes closed, you eventually learn to not let things bother you as much. That is horrible. Now, I think it’s funny, but at the time, it bothered me. I don’t get nervous about anything anymore. If you can sing on live TV knowing that a British dude is going to say something shitty to you, what is there to be nervous about now? Is there anything in entertainment that you haven’t explored yet? I haven’t done much, frankly. I’ve always wanted to voice a cartoon. I’m good friends with Lea Salonga, the voice of Mulan and Jasmine. I’m still jealous of her for that. I have a unique voice speaking voice too, so I’d be perfect for some “King of the Hill”-type character. You said you can’t stomach politics anymore. Was there a breaking point? Not necessarily. I think I watched too much “West Wing.” I grew up loving politics. You would hope the political world would be full of people who wanted to win for others, and it is not. I got a bad taste in my mouth. I have faith in the system, but I don’t have much. Are you surprised that Donald Trump was re-elected? I’m not going to lie and say I saw it coming like I did in 2016. Kamala was a great candidate and I am so impressed by what she was able to accomplish in the short time she had. But I can’t pretend I was surprised; she was up against almost insurmountable headwinds this year. Given that you know Trump from “Celebrity Apprentice,” do you think he’ll govern the same way as his first term? I wish knowing him gave me better insight. The pre-2016 Trump that I know hated two things: losing and being disliked. I really believe his whole refusal to accept the real outcome of the 2020 election was his unwillingness, his pathological inability, to concede that the majority of Americans didn’t like him. But he’s won reelection now. And he won the popular vote this time. He never has to face the prospect of losing again. He could choose to abandon the divisiveness and hateful rhetoric and try to work on making people happy beyond his base and improving his legacy. I’m praying that the pre-politics Trump I knew is still in there somewhere and wants to be loved. And if I’m wrong and he doesn’t want people to like him, if he really does want to get revenge on everyone who said he would destroy the Constitution and said he isn’t fit for the office, I’d just want to remind him that the very best revenge would be proving them all wrong.
ldyjocelyn Posted November 21, 2024 Author Report Posted November 21, 2024 usmagazine.com Clay Aiken Thinks 'American Idol' Judges Are Too Soft Now: 'I Appreciate the Criticism' (Exclusive) Quote Clay Aiken Thinks ‘American Idol’ Judges Are Too Soft Now: ‘I Appreciate the Criticism’ (Exclusive) By Russell Steinberg November 20, 2024 Clay Aiken thinks American Idol judges have gone soft. The multiplatinum recording artist weighed in on the show that catapulted him to fame in 2003 in an exclusive conversation with Us Weekly. More than 20 years later, he still looks back fondly on the lessons he learned as a result of the judges’ criticisms. “We cared what the judges said, not only because we didn’t want them to say something mean, but also because we would take it and then go back and next week say, ‘Don’t do this again,’” he said. “Or they said, ‘I’m singing too many ballads. Sing something uptempo.’ You would make a point to improve yourself.” Aiken, 45, added that you can go back and watch the first few seasons of the show and track the evolution of the contestants based on feedback from judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. “I appreciate the criticism,” he added. “Another thing that I think made the show great was you could see growth in [season 1 winner] Kelly [Clarkson] from the time she walked in that studio, that audition, till the time she made it to the end. He continued, “You can see growth in me, in Ruben [Studdard]. Ruben stopped wearing the jerseys after a certain point. Fantasia [Barrino] grew. And a lot of that was because we would get criticism every week.” That’s no longer the case, Aiken believes. He points to season 23 winner Iam Tongi, whom Aiken worked with during the season. “When he opened his mouth, it was like something hits you,” Aiken recalled. “And wow, I don’t think I’ve heard that with anyone else that I’ve listened to sing so great. But he stayed doing the same thing every episode.” According to Aiken, Tongi’s static performance calls into question the need for having judges at all. “We could save so much time if we would just skip over the 45 to 50 seconds where they’re all going to say, ‘You did a lovely job and you’re a great star,’” he said. “I mean, they all are stars, but some of them I think could be so much better if they were pushed a little bit more.” Though Aiken doesn’t watch Idol religiously, he says he keeps up with the latest news from the show, knowing he’s going to be asked about it. In fact, Aiken stepped away from music entirely more than a decade ago when he became a parent, not wanting to miss “those very cute moments.” Now that his son Parker, 16, is a teenager, he is wading back into music with the Friday, November 22, release of his Christmas album Christmas Bells Are Ringing. The LP includes a new version of the Bing Crosby classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” which is the album’s first single. “It’s about the consistency of having the same people around you, people who love you. And these songs are all sort of that,” Aiken said of his album. “They’re the warm, cozy songs that everybody knows we remember them from. They will evoke memories for people because they’ve heard them for years.” With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
ldyjocelyn Posted November 22, 2024 Author Report Posted November 22, 2024 eonline.com Clay Aiken Calls Out Current American Idol Judges for Being Too Nice Quote Clay Aiken Calls Out Current American Idol Judges for Being Too Nice American Idol season two finalist Clay Aiken exclusively spoke to E! News about how the show has evolved into a gentler judging strategy. By Rachel McRady Nov 22, 2024 8:00 AMTags That’s a no from Clay Aiken, dawg. The American Idol season two finalist, who lost to Ruben Studdard in 2003, shared his candid thoughts on the show’s approach to judging compared to the criticism he and his fellow competitors got from original panelists Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul. “They don't even give them anything constructive,” Aiken exclusively told E! News of the newest generation of Idol judges. “It's just like, ‘That was great. That was wonderful.’ Well, what are you there for then?” The most recent set of judges on the music competition show included Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, who have been at the helm since the show was revived on ABC network in 2023. However, Perry stepped away from the show after the most recent 22nd season, with season four winner Carrie Underwood set to be the first alum to permanently join the judging panel in season 23. For her part, the “Blown Away” singer has previously expressed her hopes to be “honest and constructive but still kind.” As Aiken sees it, for now, due to the feedback the judges currently give, the show could cut their comments entirely to save on airtime. “I mean we could save so much time,” he quipped, “And we could sell like 50 more ads if we just cut out the three minutes after every performance where we listen to three people say, ‘That was wonderful. You are a star.’” The “Invisible” singer, who is releasing his first Christmas album in more than a decade on Nov. 22, added that he is passionate about accurate critiques because he felt they helped him in his own Idol journey. Ray Mickshaw/WireImage “I grew from the criticisms—many of them not all of them,” he shared. “I grew from the critiques that we got when I was on the show. And I think that the show was at its best when it did help people get better. I tried to improve every week because of what I was told." He added, "I don't think we do anyone a service when we just tell them that they're great, and don't tell them what they could do better at.” Vince Bucci/Getty Image Aiken’s reflection on his experience with constructive criticism on American Idol comes as he embarks on his return to music with Christmas Bells Are Ringing. After taking time away from the music world to help raise his 16-year-old son Parker and to try out a political career, including a run for Congress, he was more than ready to get back into the studio. Alvis Records “I realized that I could do more to improve people's lives by singing than I ever was going to be able to do in in the political world,” he told E! “Going into something that I think has the potential to make people happier, Christmas made sense, right? Because I'm cheesy already as a person.” As he put it, “Christmas just matches me real well but also because the whole goal of this return was to be able to do something more positive. And what's more joyful than the holidays?”
ldyjocelyn Posted November 22, 2024 Author Report Posted November 22, 2024 106wjjy.com Clay Aiken wants to give fans that ‘cozy’ vibe of ‘safety’ and ‘security’ with new Christmas album Quote By wjjy | November 22, 2024 Clay Aiken wants to give fans that ‘cozy’ vibe of ‘safety’ and ‘security’ with new Christmas album Alvis, Inc. Clay Aiken‘s new album, Christmas Bells Are Ringing — his first in nearly 15 years — arrives Friday, 20 years after his first holiday album, Merry Christmas With Love. Clay says he made the album for a very specific reason, but he also thinks it’s something the world needs at this moment. For the past 10 years, Clay’s been focusing on running for office in his home state of North Carolina. But he rediscovered his love for singing live after he and pal Ruben Studdard toured together in 2023. “I had fun,” he tells ABC Audio. “And I thought, ‘You know what? I could see myself going out and touring or performing again.’ Then my manager said, ‘Well, you can’t go out and do it unless you have a new album,’ and I thought, ‘Oh, God.’ So the album is a means to an end, right?” Clay’s planning a Christmas tour for 2025. But as for why he chose to make a holiday album, he says, “Christmas just felt like the right place to start for me. It is something that’s all positive. … [It’s] supposed to hearken back to that sort of Perry Como, Andy Williams sort of vibe of cozy, safety, security.” He laughs, “I feel like after what I’ve done for the last decade, and after the year that the world has gone through — yeah. Something safe and secure … I wanted to be a part of that.” And keeping with that vibe, Clay is only singing classic tunes and old favorites. “Everybody thinks they’re going to be the next Mariah and come up with this new, catchy Christmas song,” Clay says. “But no one’s going to beat Mariah. … So I didn’t want to try. I didn’t want to try for new original songs because no one ever remembers those.”
ldyjocelyn Posted November 22, 2024 Author Report Posted November 22, 2024 tvshowsace.com Clay Aiken Says ‘American Idol’ Judges Aren’t Critical Enough Quote Clay Aiken Says ‘American Idol’ Judges Aren’t Critical Enough ByShawn Lealos November 22, 2024 American Idol News Reality TV Clay Aiken was one of the first major stars to come out of American Idol after Kelly Clarkson’s first season win. Aiken finished second place in Season 2 and went on to have a very successful musical career of his own. In a recent interview, Clay said he wasn’t as impressed with Idol now. According to the singer, the judges are too easy on the singers. Here is what Aiken had to say and why he thinks criticism is helpful for the singers in the series. Clay Aiken Unsatisfied With American Idol Today Clay Aiken was talking about his career in the years since he came in second place on American Idol. In the interview, he took some time to discuss the reality singing competition series. Clay Aiken – YouTube Clay Aiken said that the judges now go too easy on the singers. He said that the new singers competing don’t get enough criticism, which could hurt them in their future in the industry. “We cared what the judges said, not only because we didn’t want them to say something mean, but also because we would take it and then go back and next week say, ‘Don’t do this again,’” Clay said (via Us Weekly). “Or they said, ‘I’m singing too many ballads. Sing something uptempo.’ You would make a point to improve yourself.” Aiken said people could watch the first few seasons and see Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul actually giving critical advice to the singers. While some thought they could be cruel, Aiken said it was all in an attempt to bring out the best in the singers and make them better. “I appreciate the criticism,” Clay said. “Another thing that I think made the show great was you could see growth in Kelly [Clarkson] from the time she walked in that studio, that audition, till the time she made it to the end. Clay Aiken Says Today’s American Idol Is Not The Same Clay Aiken said it wasn’t just Kelly Clarkson. He said that in Season 2, fans could see the growth in him and Ruben Studdard throughout the season. He said that Ruben completely morphed into what he became as the season went on. He said Fantasia Barrino grew because of the criticism they received and built on. Fantasia Barrino – The Kelly Clarkson Show – YouTube Clay said that the new judges are not as critical, but there might not even be a need for it anymore. Aiken worked on American Idol in Season 23. He was a mentor for Iam Tongi, who went on to win the series. He said that Iam proves there might not even be a need for judges anymore. “When he opened his mouth, it was like something hits you,” Aiken recalled. “And wow, I don’t think I’ve heard that with anyone else that I’ve listened to sing so great. But he stayed doing the same thing every episode.” Clay Aiken is also moving back into music. He left the industry over 10 years ago to spend more time with his son. Now that his son is 16, Clay has a new Christmas album coming out (Christmas Bells Are Ringing). It is his first new album since 2012.
ldyjocelyn Posted November 23, 2024 Author Report Posted November 23, 2024 broadwayworld.com Video: Clay Aiken Is Ringing In the Holidays with New Album Quote Video: Clay Aiken Is Ringing In the Holidays with New Album "Christmas Bells Are Ringing" is available to purchase and stream today. By: Robert BannonNov. 22, 2024 Welcome to another edition of “The Roundtable” on BroadwayWorld! This week Idol Star and vocal powerhouse Clay Aiken is here. We admit it! We are some Claymates here at The Roundtable! That second season of Idol was LIFE! Did you know that Clay's iconic Christmas Album is tied for the biggest first week of Holiday sales with Celine Dion!? Well, Clay is back with a new album full of classics and he is singing the only way Clay knows how! Catapulting to fame on season two of American Idol, he became the first Idol alum in history to have his first single debut at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, to have a single certified platinum and to have an album certified triple platinum. As a concert artist he’s played some of the most iconic venues in North America, including on the 2003 Independent Tour which Clay co-headlined with Kelly Clarkson. Clay’s album, Measure Of A Man, also debuted at #1 with the highest first week sales by a debut artist. His 2004 holiday release, Merry Christmas With Love, set a record for the fastest selling holiday album of the SoundScan era and remains tied for the highest charting debut of a holiday album in Billboard history. Beyond all of his successes (and near successes) his proudest accomplishment remains his son, Parker.
ldyjocelyn Posted November 23, 2024 Author Report Posted November 23, 2024 worldlyupdate.com Clay Aiken Critiques Modern American Idol Judges, Says ‘Tough Criticism Helped Talents Like Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Reach New Heights’ Quote Clay Aiken Critiques Modern American Idol Judges, Says ‘Tough Criticism Helped Talents Like Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Reach New Heights’ newss trangalaska trangalaska · November 21, 2024 · 0 Comment Clay Aiken. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images The multiplatinum recording artist weighed in on the show that catapulted him to fame in 2003 in an exclusive conversation with Us Weekly. More than 20 years later, he still looks back fondly on the lessons he learned as a result of the judges’ criticisms. “We cared what the judges said, not only because we didn’t want them to say something mean, but also because we would take it and then go back and next week say, ‘Don’t do this again,’” he said. “Or they said, ‘I’m singing too many ballads. Sing something uptempo.’ You would make a point to improve yourself.” Aiken, 45, added that you can go back and watch the first few seasons of the show and track the evolution of the contestants based on feedback from judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. “I appreciate the criticism,” he added. “Another thing that I think made the show great was you could see growth in [season 1 winner] Kelly [Clarkson] from the time she walked in that studio, that audition, till the time she made it to the end. Mike Windle/Getty Images for The Hollywood Christmas Parade He continued, “You can see growth in me, in Ruben [Studdard]. Ruben stopped wearing the jerseys after a certain point. Fantasia [Barrino] grew. And a lot of that was because we would get criticism every week.” That’s no longer the case, Aiken believes. He points to season 23 winner Iam Tongi, whom Aiken worked with during the season. “When he opened his mouth, it was like something hits you,” Aiken recalled. “And wow, I don’t think I’ve heard that with anyone else that I’ve listened to sing so great. But he stayed doing the same thing every episode.” According to Aiken, Tongi’s static performance calls into question the need for having judges at all. “We could save so much time if we would just skip over the 45 to 50 seconds where they’re all going to say, ‘You did a lovely job and you’re a great star,’” he said. “I mean, they all are stars, but some of them I think could be so much better if they were pushed a little bit more.” Though Aiken doesn’t watch Idol religiously, he says he keeps up with the latest news from the show, knowing he’s going to be asked about it. In fact, Aiken stepped away from music entirely more than a decade ago when he became a parent, not wanting to miss “those very cute moments.” Now that his son Parker, 16, is a teenager, he is wading back into music with the Friday, November 22, release of his Christmas album Christmas Bells Are Ringing. The LP includes a new version of the Bing Crosby classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” which is the album’s first single. “It’s about the consistency of having the same people around you, people who love you. And these songs are all sort of that,” Aiken said of his album. “They’re the warm, cozy songs that everybody knows we remember them from. They will evoke memories for people because they’ve heard them for years.”
ldyjocelyn Posted November 23, 2024 Author Report Posted November 23, 2024 queerty.com Clay Aiken on holiday delusion, Shawn Mendes & being closeted on ‘Idol’: “America knew before me!” Quote Clay Aiken on holiday delusion, Shawn Mendes & being closeted on ‘Idol’: “America knew before me!” By Cameron Scheetz November 22, 2024 at 10:00am Clay Aiken knows a thing or two about nationwide votes with disappointing outcomes. The singer and erstwhile politician first made a name for himself in 2003 on the biggest stage possible: American Idol. The competition was already a phenomenon by the time the world met a sweet Southern guy named Clay in season two. He may not have looked like a traditional pop star—at least, according to Simon Cowell—but had charm and a stunning voice that made him a major fan favorite. From the moment he walked through those audition doors, the public began to speculate over his sexuality. The singer still remembers headlines and TV broadcasts openly wondering, “Is Clay gay?”, and he certainly didn’t have an answer for them because he was still figuring that out for himself! Despite the rumors, Aiken crooned his way to the nail-biting finale, where he ultimately lost to Ruben Studdard by a shockingly small margin of votes. It was a momentary defeat, but certainly not the end of the road. Mere months after the season ended, he shared his debut album, Measure Of A Man, which topped the Billboard charts. The following year, he released the holiday album Merry Christmas With Love, which broke countless records of its own. In the two decades since, Aiken’s musical output began to wane, turning attention instead to one of his earliest passions: politics. Though he lost out on two bids to represent North Carolina in Congress, he remained a strident activist and stayed committed to making his community a better place. But something shifted recently, and he admits he’s become more and more disillusioned with political world (perhaps a certain former reality TV host that Aiken once worked with for a brief stint in 2012 has something to do with it?), longing to immerse himself once again in the joy and magic of music. But not just any type of music—Christmas music. So, 20 years after Merry Christmas With Love, Aiken’s back with an new collection of classic holiday covers, Christmas Bells Are Ringing. “We need a little happiness and a little joy nowadays, don’t you think?,” Aiken asks. “And Christmas is the best way to do it!” With Christmas Bells Are Ringing out now and ready to make your yuletide extra gay, we sat down for a wide-ranging chat with the singer, who was more than happy to share his unfiltered thoughts about our recent presidential election, why we could all use a little “warm & fuzzy” right about now, and why he’s not doing holiday originals this time around (“No one’s ever gonna beat Mariah!”). Plus, he gets honest about what it was like coming up through Idol while struggling with coming out, and looks to the conversation around Shawn Mendes’ comments about his sexuality as proof of just how far we’ve come. You can watch our conversation with Clay Aiken in the video above, or read it in full below. Clay, first of all, you’ve always been very politically engaged, so I wondered how you’re feeling, just a few weeks out from the election? I think a lot of queer folks are feeling defeated right now and could use some encouragement. I probably am a little too Pollyanna-ish all the time, and I think it’s perfectly fine for people to spend some time being angry or upset, you know? But I think that we have made incredible progress. I mean, I think about the 20 years that I’ve been in the public eye, and the difference between life today and what it was like 20 years ago is incredible, and I think we need to celebrate that and feel proud of that, despite the fact that we may have some setbacks in the coming years. I don’t have anything necessarily positive to say about the soon-to-be-president-again, but having known him and worked with him and doing his show [The Celebrity Apprentice] and knowing his kids, I feel like a lot of the stuff that we hear from him is somewhat performative—I don’t think that surprises anyone. I’m certainly more worried about the folks who he surrounds himself with when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, and more worried about the people who he has put or will put on courts when it comes to those things, I don’t like to borrow trouble. I would normally say it’s, “let’s wait and see in January, when he’s in office, how things go,” but we’ve already seen that once, so we know kind of how it’s going to go. Our country is strong, and we have a lot of people who are in in positions of influence—whether they’re in the majority or not—who are standing guard to help either protect rights of all types of all different populations of folks who are vulnerable. And I believe that we will be able to survive the next four years and repair any damage that may come from it. In part, one of the reasons that I’m not doing politics anymore is that I have discovered in the last 10 years that so very little gets done there, regardless of who you are and what side you’re on. It’s mostly posturing and sniping and fighting, and very little in the way of actual legislation that changes anything. So much more is done within the sphere of our communities. So, you touched on the fact that, after years in the political sphere, you’re turning back to music. In your view why was this holiday album the right way to do it? What Ive been doing for the last 10 years—not much hope or positivity, right? So, I went on tour with Ruben Studdard last year—we did a 20th anniversary tour to celebrate 20 years since Idol—and I sort of fell in love with performing and singing and thought, “You know, I’ve been away long enough—I miss it, I want to do it again!” We need a little happiness and a little joy nowadays, don’t you think? And Christmas is the best way to do it! Coming back after 15 years away and trying to do an album, a typical pop album, it certainly would have been possible, but I feel like this is an easier step back into things. Because I’m cheesy and corny like Christmas is, [so] it’s just naturally my personality. My Christmas album was always my favorite album anyway, and my Christmas tours were always my favorite shows to do. So, the purpose of this album—in the way we produced it, and the songs we chose—was to hearken back to those old albums from the ’60s and ’70s that are like your favorite fuzzy slippers, or a sweater by a fire—something cozy and safe. I feel like Christmas just embodies that! With that in mind, how did you go about pulling together the track list for Christmas Bells Are Ringing? Are these all songs that have that “fuzzy slipper” vibe for you specifically? A part of it was: having done a Christmas album and another Christmas project and a Christmas show on Broadway, there were only a few songs left. [Laughs.] I didn’t have too many others to choose from, right? And I didn’t want to do original stuff. I mean, I like original Christmas songs from some folks, but no one’s ever gonna beat Mariah! Everybody wants the next “All I Want For Christmas Is You”—you’re not gonna do it. Sit down. It’s not happening! [Laughs.] So I thought, “let’s stick with what works,” right? Some of them, yes, are classics. But then there were a few, which are not actually Christmas songs. “Pure Imagination” isn’t, but it it makes you think of all that Christmas is about: creating this perfect world in our imagination. And that’s what we do every December—we pretend that we’re all nice to each other. We pretend that everybody’s happy! [Laughs.] That’s what that’s really what Christmas is about: Delusion. So these were all about that familiarity, but since I wasn’t doing original stuff, I also wanted to specifically pick songs that haven’t been overdone. So “Caroling, Caroling” by Nat King Cole—great song, but not many people have recorded it. “Merry Christmas, Darling,” which, I mean, I worship Karen Carpenter, but surprisingly very few people have have recorded that one. Maybe that’s because nobody wants to hear anybody except for Karen Carpenter singing it? And I suppose I’ll find out very shortly if that’s the case, but I decided to give it a shot anyway! In a recent interview with Variety, you said touring this album might be on the horizon ’til next year because you’re going to “spend this year reminding people that you can sing and that you’re still around.” Do you really feel like people have forgotten about you? I’m alive! [Laughs.] Idol was 22 years ago, my first Christmas album was 20 years ago, and my last album was almost 15 years ago. So I crammed a lot into those five, six years after Idol, and then what the hell did I do with myself for the last 15 year, right? I think I’ve spent so much time trying to get people—especially in North Carolina—to think of me as something other than a singer from a TV show. So now I’m like, “Oh crap, I’ve got to remind them that I can sing again. I’m alive, and I can sing!” So, yeah, there’s a little bit of work involved that with that. But I have to imagine people are still recognizing you and coming up to you to say hello all the time, right? Yeah, and it’s weird, too, because it’s just the power of that show 20 years ago. It was a phenomenon! And also I feel very lucky to have been a part of [it then] because it was sort of the last time that everyone in the country did the same thing, right? Forty million people watched Idol that year, and it’s kind of crazy to me. I left music at almost the worst time because, if I had been away for 10 years in the’ 90s, I could have been away and I would have come back and everything would have been the same. But the 10 years that I was away, we went from people buying CDs to streaming! Like, there was no streaming service when my last album was out. So everything about the entertainment world has changed so much, and it’s become so fragmented that being a part of Idol when I was a part of it—Ruben, myself, Fantasia [Barrino], Kelly [Clarkson]—there are only a few of us who were still were doing it when everybody was watching! We’re all so very fragmented, so I’m fortunate that I was able to get my start at the very tail-end of when the country all sat around the TV and watched together. So, yes, a lot of people still do recognize me, people still do know my name, but they’re like, “Oh, is he still alive?” Speaking to that huge platform of American Idol, I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing Adam Lambert and David Archuleta, and—regardless of where anyone might have been on their personal journeys with their identity at the time—just the fact that you all were on that stage, on our screens, was huge for queer people like myself watching at home, even if we didn’t have a real grasp of that impact quite yet. You didn’t have words at all! [Laughs.] You were two when I was on Idol—you were pre-natal! There’s no way! No way, I was calling in, I was voting! And you knew I was gay before I did! I tell people all the time: America knew before me! I didn’t come out to myself until about halfway through that season, so I go back and look at videos, and I’m like, “Oh sh*t, who was I kidding?” But I’ll go back to what I was saying at the beginning when we were first talking politics: The world is so much different now, and I think that we have to be excited and happy about how much progress has been made since 2003. Because I didn’t know I was gay, and I was figuring all of this out while I was one of the most famous people in the country in that period of time. Not too long ago, I was going through some videos, and it kind of freaked me out. I didn’t realize until just two, three weeks ago that, “Is Clay gay?” was like the number-one story on all the entertainment shows at the time. People were interviewing other celebrities about whether or not I was gay, and that would not happen now—that’s not something that would be allowed. Which is good! It’s progress, right? I mean, I made Kathy Griffin‘s career practically, because her whole first stand-up set was about me being gay. B*tch owes me commissions! [Laughs.] Now, I’m not bothered by it. I didn’t find it funny at the time, but I find it funny now. We have made a great deal of progress in the past 20 years, and we are doing far better than it sometimes can feel like we are. I’d be happier to live in 2024 more than 2004, right? And there’s an interesting comparison point then, because in that same Variety interview, you had just seen all the headlines about Shawn Mendes “opening up about his sexuality” and joked that, after you came out, it stopped being a story. Well, actually—that interview happened just like this one, and literally as I was logging on, someone sent me that video [of Mendes.] And that kind of bothers me that I even said that—it was a weird moment where I was like, “holy sh*t!” And of course I was also like, “Oh, please, now he’ll date me!” [Laughs.] But it bothered me that I talked about it, especially looking back at how [I] was the number one story on Good Morning America. And I wasn’t even coming out, by the way. It wasn’t when I came out, it was before. Rosie O’Donnell had an argument with Kelly Ripa about it on live TV! I mean, that sh*t was happening, and so I felt bad that I even talked about his private business to anybody at all, because I didn’t want them doing that to me! But nobody’s having those arguments, or putting “is Shawn Mendes gay?” on TV now, because if you did, you’d be taken off the air—as you should be, because it’s his business, as it was mine, as it is anyone’s. And to bring it back to that earlier point: You may not have been out at first, but there were so many people watching you on Idol at home who may have been closeted, too. It’s easier to say this in retrospect, of course, but we’re so grateful to have had you on such a massive platform then. No matter where you were at personally, just you being there and being yourself through the journey of that season had a huge impact on people. Well, you don’t need to thank me—I didn’t have a choice! I didn’t do anything other than… just be real gay. [Laughs.] I’m not gonna do the regrets thing, but I do wonder sometimes. The first guy I ever kissed was during that show. If I had known that I was gay before I got to LA—I’d always thought, “Maybe I’m bisexual?” I didn’t know! I knew gay men, like the dance teacher at my high school I knew was gay, even though I didn’t know what that meant. And I wasn’t that, but I’m nobody’s lumberjack either. And when I was on the show, there was somebody who worked on the crew of Idol at the time who was “The Soldier Of The Year” for the entire US Army back in the ’80s, and he was gay. So if he was gay, I was like, “Oh sh*t, well maybe I am!” I wonder if I had known, prior to being on the show, if I would have felt comfortable with telling people or being open about it. I don’t imagine that I would have, and I don’t feel guilty about it because it was a different time! But, you know, I don’t judge people today—if someone in 2024 didn’t feel comfortable being out, I wouldn’t judge them because we’re all in our heads, and it’s it’s different for each person. I guess I’m saying all that to say: I didn’t really do anything except for have the exact same journey that every single gay man and gay woman has ever had, and mine just happened to be on national TV. And on the cover of the Inquirer. [Laughs.] And who can’t relate to that?! There was one producer on the show, and I didn’t know what she was doing at the time, but I have looked back at it now like, [mimes surprise.] I remember the second week of Idol‘s live shows, she pulled me backstage—she was being very, very delicate about it. I could see her sitting there trying to very carefully pick her words: “When you walk across the stage, maybe try to pretend that you have a tennis ball in between [your legs.] Basically, “try not to let your thighs touch each other.” And I didn’t think anything of it at all, but later I realized, “Oh, she was telling me not to swish!” I won’t say her name because I look back on that now as her being helpful to me. She knew something that I either didn’t know, or I didn’t want people to know, and she was trying to give me a pointer. She wasn’t trying to keep me closeted because the show “didn’t need homos” or anything. I’ve always felt that was incredibly gracious. I don’t know where she is nowadays, but I wish I did so I could say that the much older me is very appreciative of that. But I feel like if I told that story without any more context, people would immediately assume that she was trying to “butch me up,” or make me not be gay for TV, which was not the case at all. She was being empathetic. That’s lovely. Who knows! Maybe she’ll read this. She’s a Queerty reader, right! Well, to bring it all full circle, we’ve got one final question for you: What’s the gayest holiday song of all time? Oh god! By the way, I did want so badly to make the album title Make The Yuletide Gay, but I couldn’t get anybody else to agree. But, gosh, the gayest Christmas song ever… I don’t know, how about anything Clay Aiken sings, probably. [Laughs.] Let’s just go with that! Clay Aiken’s Christmas Bells Are Ringing is now available and streaming everywhere.
Clay Aiken knows a thing or two about nationwide votes with disappointing outcomes. The singer and erstwhile politician first made a name for himself in 2003 on the biggest stage possible: American Idol. The competition was already a phenomenon by the time the world met a sweet Southern guy named Clay in season two. He may not have looked like a traditional pop star—at least, according to Simon Cowell—but had charm and a stunning voice that made him a major fan favorite. From the moment he walked through those audition doors, the public began to speculate over his sexuality. The singer still remembers headlines and TV broadcasts openly wondering, “Is Clay gay?”, and he certainly didn’t have an answer for them because he was still figuring that out for himself! Despite the rumors, Aiken crooned his way to the nail-biting finale, where he ultimately lost to Ruben Studdard by a shockingly small margin of votes. It was a momentary defeat, but certainly not the end of the road. Mere months after the season ended, he shared his debut album, Measure Of A Man, which topped the Billboard charts. The following year, he released the holiday album Merry Christmas With Love, which broke countless records of its own. In the two decades since, Aiken’s musical output began to wane, turning attention instead to one of his earliest passions: politics. Though he lost out on two bids to represent North Carolina in Congress, he remained a strident activist and stayed committed to making his community a better place. But something shifted recently, and he admits he’s become more and more disillusioned with political world (perhaps a certain former reality TV host that Aiken once worked with for a brief stint in 2012 has something to do with it?), longing to immerse himself once again in the joy and magic of music. But not just any type of music—Christmas music. So, 20 years after Merry Christmas With Love, Aiken’s back with an new collection of classic holiday covers, Christmas Bells Are Ringing. “We need a little happiness and a little joy nowadays, don’t you think?,” Aiken asks. “And Christmas is the best way to do it!” With Christmas Bells Are Ringing out now and ready to make your yuletide extra gay, we sat down for a wide-ranging chat with the singer, who was more than happy to share his unfiltered thoughts about our recent presidential election, why we could all use a little “warm & fuzzy” right about now, and why he’s not doing holiday originals this time around (“No one’s ever gonna beat Mariah!”). Plus, he gets honest about what it was like coming up through Idol while struggling with coming out, and looks to the conversation around Shawn Mendes’ comments about his sexuality as proof of just how far we’ve come. You can watch our conversation with Clay Aiken in the video above, or read it in full below. Clay, first of all, you’ve always been very politically engaged, so I wondered how you’re feeling, just a few weeks out from the election? I think a lot of queer folks are feeling defeated right now and could use some encouragement. I probably am a little too Pollyanna-ish all the time, and I think it’s perfectly fine for people to spend some time being angry or upset, you know? But I think that we have made incredible progress. I mean, I think about the 20 years that I’ve been in the public eye, and the difference between life today and what it was like 20 years ago is incredible, and I think we need to celebrate that and feel proud of that, despite the fact that we may have some setbacks in the coming years. I don’t have anything necessarily positive to say about the soon-to-be-president-again, but having known him and worked with him and doing his show [The Celebrity Apprentice] and knowing his kids, I feel like a lot of the stuff that we hear from him is somewhat performative—I don’t think that surprises anyone. I’m certainly more worried about the folks who he surrounds himself with when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, and more worried about the people who he has put or will put on courts when it comes to those things, I don’t like to borrow trouble. I would normally say it’s, “let’s wait and see in January, when he’s in office, how things go,” but we’ve already seen that once, so we know kind of how it’s going to go. Our country is strong, and we have a lot of people who are in in positions of influence—whether they’re in the majority or not—who are standing guard to help either protect rights of all types of all different populations of folks who are vulnerable. And I believe that we will be able to survive the next four years and repair any damage that may come from it. In part, one of the reasons that I’m not doing politics anymore is that I have discovered in the last 10 years that so very little gets done there, regardless of who you are and what side you’re on. It’s mostly posturing and sniping and fighting, and very little in the way of actual legislation that changes anything. So much more is done within the sphere of our communities. So, you touched on the fact that, after years in the political sphere, you’re turning back to music. In your view why was this holiday album the right way to do it? What Ive been doing for the last 10 years—not much hope or positivity, right? So, I went on tour with Ruben Studdard last year—we did a 20th anniversary tour to celebrate 20 years since Idol—and I sort of fell in love with performing and singing and thought, “You know, I’ve been away long enough—I miss it, I want to do it again!” We need a little happiness and a little joy nowadays, don’t you think? And Christmas is the best way to do it! Coming back after 15 years away and trying to do an album, a typical pop album, it certainly would have been possible, but I feel like this is an easier step back into things. Because I’m cheesy and corny like Christmas is, [so] it’s just naturally my personality. My Christmas album was always my favorite album anyway, and my Christmas tours were always my favorite shows to do. So, the purpose of this album—in the way we produced it, and the songs we chose—was to hearken back to those old albums from the ’60s and ’70s that are like your favorite fuzzy slippers, or a sweater by a fire—something cozy and safe. I feel like Christmas just embodies that! With that in mind, how did you go about pulling together the track list for Christmas Bells Are Ringing? Are these all songs that have that “fuzzy slipper” vibe for you specifically? A part of it was: having done a Christmas album and another Christmas project and a Christmas show on Broadway, there were only a few songs left. [Laughs.] I didn’t have too many others to choose from, right? And I didn’t want to do original stuff. I mean, I like original Christmas songs from some folks, but no one’s ever gonna beat Mariah! Everybody wants the next “All I Want For Christmas Is You”—you’re not gonna do it. Sit down. It’s not happening! [Laughs.] So I thought, “let’s stick with what works,” right? Some of them, yes, are classics. But then there were a few, which are not actually Christmas songs. “Pure Imagination” isn’t, but it it makes you think of all that Christmas is about: creating this perfect world in our imagination. And that’s what we do every December—we pretend that we’re all nice to each other. We pretend that everybody’s happy! [Laughs.] That’s what that’s really what Christmas is about: Delusion. So these were all about that familiarity, but since I wasn’t doing original stuff, I also wanted to specifically pick songs that haven’t been overdone. So “Caroling, Caroling” by Nat King Cole—great song, but not many people have recorded it. “Merry Christmas, Darling,” which, I mean, I worship Karen Carpenter, but surprisingly very few people have have recorded that one. Maybe that’s because nobody wants to hear anybody except for Karen Carpenter singing it? And I suppose I’ll find out very shortly if that’s the case, but I decided to give it a shot anyway! In a recent interview with Variety, you said touring this album might be on the horizon ’til next year because you’re going to “spend this year reminding people that you can sing and that you’re still around.” Do you really feel like people have forgotten about you? I’m alive! [Laughs.] Idol was 22 years ago, my first Christmas album was 20 years ago, and my last album was almost 15 years ago. So I crammed a lot into those five, six years after Idol, and then what the hell did I do with myself for the last 15 year, right? I think I’ve spent so much time trying to get people—especially in North Carolina—to think of me as something other than a singer from a TV show. So now I’m like, “Oh crap, I’ve got to remind them that I can sing again. I’m alive, and I can sing!” So, yeah, there’s a little bit of work involved that with that. But I have to imagine people are still recognizing you and coming up to you to say hello all the time, right? Yeah, and it’s weird, too, because it’s just the power of that show 20 years ago. It was a phenomenon! And also I feel very lucky to have been a part of [it then] because it was sort of the last time that everyone in the country did the same thing, right? Forty million people watched Idol that year, and it’s kind of crazy to me. I left music at almost the worst time because, if I had been away for 10 years in the’ 90s, I could have been away and I would have come back and everything would have been the same. But the 10 years that I was away, we went from people buying CDs to streaming! Like, there was no streaming service when my last album was out. So everything about the entertainment world has changed so much, and it’s become so fragmented that being a part of Idol when I was a part of it—Ruben, myself, Fantasia [Barrino], Kelly [Clarkson]—there are only a few of us who were still were doing it when everybody was watching! We’re all so very fragmented, so I’m fortunate that I was able to get my start at the very tail-end of when the country all sat around the TV and watched together. So, yes, a lot of people still do recognize me, people still do know my name, but they’re like, “Oh, is he still alive?” Speaking to that huge platform of American Idol, I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing Adam Lambert and David Archuleta, and—regardless of where anyone might have been on their personal journeys with their identity at the time—just the fact that you all were on that stage, on our screens, was huge for queer people like myself watching at home, even if we didn’t have a real grasp of that impact quite yet. You didn’t have words at all! [Laughs.] You were two when I was on Idol—you were pre-natal! There’s no way! No way, I was calling in, I was voting! And you knew I was gay before I did! I tell people all the time: America knew before me! I didn’t come out to myself until about halfway through that season, so I go back and look at videos, and I’m like, “Oh sh*t, who was I kidding?” But I’ll go back to what I was saying at the beginning when we were first talking politics: The world is so much different now, and I think that we have to be excited and happy about how much progress has been made since 2003. Because I didn’t know I was gay, and I was figuring all of this out while I was one of the most famous people in the country in that period of time. Not too long ago, I was going through some videos, and it kind of freaked me out. I didn’t realize until just two, three weeks ago that, “Is Clay gay?” was like the number-one story on all the entertainment shows at the time. People were interviewing other celebrities about whether or not I was gay, and that would not happen now—that’s not something that would be allowed. Which is good! It’s progress, right? I mean, I made Kathy Griffin‘s career practically, because her whole first stand-up set was about me being gay. B*tch owes me commissions! [Laughs.] Now, I’m not bothered by it. I didn’t find it funny at the time, but I find it funny now. We have made a great deal of progress in the past 20 years, and we are doing far better than it sometimes can feel like we are. I’d be happier to live in 2024 more than 2004, right? And there’s an interesting comparison point then, because in that same Variety interview, you had just seen all the headlines about Shawn Mendes “opening up about his sexuality” and joked that, after you came out, it stopped being a story. Well, actually—that interview happened just like this one, and literally as I was logging on, someone sent me that video [of Mendes.] And that kind of bothers me that I even said that—it was a weird moment where I was like, “holy sh*t!” And of course I was also like, “Oh, please, now he’ll date me!” [Laughs.] But it bothered me that I talked about it, especially looking back at how [I] was the number one story on Good Morning America. And I wasn’t even coming out, by the way. It wasn’t when I came out, it was before. Rosie O’Donnell had an argument with Kelly Ripa about it on live TV! I mean, that sh*t was happening, and so I felt bad that I even talked about his private business to anybody at all, because I didn’t want them doing that to me! But nobody’s having those arguments, or putting “is Shawn Mendes gay?” on TV now, because if you did, you’d be taken off the air—as you should be, because it’s his business, as it was mine, as it is anyone’s. And to bring it back to that earlier point: You may not have been out at first, but there were so many people watching you on Idol at home who may have been closeted, too. It’s easier to say this in retrospect, of course, but we’re so grateful to have had you on such a massive platform then. No matter where you were at personally, just you being there and being yourself through the journey of that season had a huge impact on people. Well, you don’t need to thank me—I didn’t have a choice! I didn’t do anything other than… just be real gay. [Laughs.] I’m not gonna do the regrets thing, but I do wonder sometimes. The first guy I ever kissed was during that show. If I had known that I was gay before I got to LA—I’d always thought, “Maybe I’m bisexual?” I didn’t know! I knew gay men, like the dance teacher at my high school I knew was gay, even though I didn’t know what that meant. And I wasn’t that, but I’m nobody’s lumberjack either. And when I was on the show, there was somebody who worked on the crew of Idol at the time who was “The Soldier Of The Year” for the entire US Army back in the ’80s, and he was gay. So if he was gay, I was like, “Oh sh*t, well maybe I am!” I wonder if I had known, prior to being on the show, if I would have felt comfortable with telling people or being open about it. I don’t imagine that I would have, and I don’t feel guilty about it because it was a different time! But, you know, I don’t judge people today—if someone in 2024 didn’t feel comfortable being out, I wouldn’t judge them because we’re all in our heads, and it’s it’s different for each person. I guess I’m saying all that to say: I didn’t really do anything except for have the exact same journey that every single gay man and gay woman has ever had, and mine just happened to be on national TV. And on the cover of the Inquirer. [Laughs.] And who can’t relate to that?! There was one producer on the show, and I didn’t know what she was doing at the time, but I have looked back at it now like, [mimes surprise.] I remember the second week of Idol‘s live shows, she pulled me backstage—she was being very, very delicate about it. I could see her sitting there trying to very carefully pick her words: “When you walk across the stage, maybe try to pretend that you have a tennis ball in between [your legs.] Basically, “try not to let your thighs touch each other.” And I didn’t think anything of it at all, but later I realized, “Oh, she was telling me not to swish!” I won’t say her name because I look back on that now as her being helpful to me. She knew something that I either didn’t know, or I didn’t want people to know, and she was trying to give me a pointer. She wasn’t trying to keep me closeted because the show “didn’t need homos” or anything. I’ve always felt that was incredibly gracious. I don’t know where she is nowadays, but I wish I did so I could say that the much older me is very appreciative of that. But I feel like if I told that story without any more context, people would immediately assume that she was trying to “butch me up,” or make me not be gay for TV, which was not the case at all. She was being empathetic. That’s lovely. Who knows! Maybe she’ll read this. She’s a Queerty reader, right! Well, to bring it all full circle, we’ve got one final question for you: What’s the gayest holiday song of all time? Oh god! By the way, I did want so badly to make the album title Make The Yuletide Gay, but I couldn’t get anybody else to agree. But, gosh, the gayest Christmas song ever… I don’t know, how about anything Clay Aiken sings, probably. [Laughs.] Let’s just go with that! Clay Aiken’s Christmas Bells Are Ringing is now available and streaming everywhere.
ldyjocelyn Posted November 23, 2024 Author Report Posted November 23, 2024 eonline.com Clay Aiken Shares What He’s Like as a Dad to 16-Year-Old Parker Quote Clay Aiken Shares What He’s Like as a Dad to 16-Year-Old Parker American Idol alum Clay Aiken shared insight into his life as a dad to 16-year-old Parker Aiken, whom he shares with friend Jaymes Foster, in an exclusive interview. By Rachel McRady Nov 23, 2024 9:00 AMTags For Clay Aiken, parenting is one space in life he finds safe. While the American Idol alum has been in the public eye since more than two decades, he’s largely kept his family life with son 16-year-old Parker Aiken, whom he shares with his friend Jaymes Foster, out of the spotlight. However, he recently shed some light on his parenting style. “I'm just tough in general,” the season two finalist told E! News in an exclusive interview. “I find that I appreciate criticism. I appreciate people pointing out things that I can do better.” That said, Aiken is proud of how he was able to give Parker a sense of normalcy. Enter your email to sign up for the newsletter. “We did a very good job, I think, for 16 years, keeping him completely out of the public eye, the “Invisible” singer said. “I wanted him to be able to grow up as normally as he could.” The family made one allowance, letting Parker join in on Celebrity Family Feud in August. “That was his first time,” Aiken said of his son’s appearance. “I appreciate that he's been able to have a normal—or as close to a normal—childhood, as he could.” But, as for whether Parker will follow in his dad’s footsteps? The 45-year-old doesn’t see that happening. ABC/Celebrity Family Feud “He’s had too much music in his life,” Aiken quipped, pointing to Parker’s uncle, the legendary producer David Foster—and also Jaymes’ brother—and his aunt Katharine McPhee’s musical backgrounds. “He knows what he wants to do. He's going to go a very different way.” He added, “I'm proud of him. I'm thrilled for him. He can sing, though, he just doesn't want to.” As for Aiken, he is returning to music with his first holiday album in more than a decade, Christmas Bells Are Ringing. And Parker growing up was partially responsible for this new project. “Now was the right time to get back into music in general and sing,” he explained. “I had taken time away to both be a dad—you know, my kid was growing up, and I didn't want to be away.” Alvis Records As for the Aiken family’s holiday traditions, the Idol alum noted that his family is just like any other amid the Christmas season. “I think our tradition is probably not that different than most families in that it's just really about the time of year where you get together,” he shared. “Sometimes it's the only time of the year you see certain cousins, right? It’s the one time that you know that you can get everybody together and have that safety and familiarity.” Christmas Bells Are Ringing is available Nov. 22.
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