Clay Aiken has achieved large issues since coming in second throughout “Season 2″ of American Idol.” Years earlier than Simon Cowell left “Idol,” Aiken was bested by soul singer Ruben Studdard. Nonetheless, he managed a slightly profitable profession inside the music trade. Actually, Aiken obtained off to a barely stronger begin than his victor, based on MRT. Whereas Studdard’s debut single, “Flying With out Wings,” bought 286,000 copies, Aiken’s single, “This Is the Evening-Bridge Over Troubled Water,” eclipsed it by greater than 100,000 gross sales. His accompanying album, “Measure of a Man,” bought greater than 1,000,000 copies, reaching platinum standing. In the meantime, his total catalog has produced greater than 5 million album gross sales since 2003.

Lately, Aiken has ventured into politics, although he hasn’t had practically as a lot success on this area. In 2014, the singer tried and did not run for Congress, then gave it one other go in 2022. Though he wasn’t profitable throughout both bid, he did reveal his motivation for trying to enter the political area throughout his second go-around. Together with the truth that his Congressman, David Worth, had lately retired, thus opening up a seat in North Carolina, Aiken, who’s been open about his sexuality, additionally needed to problem Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. “In November as I used to be contemplating it, the lieutenant governor right here in North Carolina [Mark Robinson], who’s … he is empathetically challenged,” he shared with Selection. “He gave a speech during which he mentioned … ‘What goal do homosexuals serve?’ I watched that type of with simply dumb struck awe that somebody could possibly be so ignorant … I mentioned, , ‘I obtained your goal, b**ch. I’ll present you.'”

Since then, Aiken has discovered his method again to music.

Though his latter solo music did not make as a lot of a splash as his first stretch within the trade, Clay Aiken has not vanished (like some “American Idol” alum). For instance, the beloved star teamed up with Ruben Studdard, his longtime pal and typically collaborator, for a reunion tour in 2024. Whereas talking with WKMG Orlando, Aiken revealed their motivation for coming again collectively. “20 years is type of an enormous deal, and Ruben … jogged my memory of it,” he mentioned. “So, it looks like one thing value celebrating, that we’re nonetheless alive 20 years later, that we’re capable of proceed performing 20 years later … so it is a celebration, and it is a thanks to the individuals who watched us in 2003.”

Past that, Aiken revealed in November 2024 that he was additionally gearing as much as launch new solo Christmas music after a number of years with out new materials. Apparently, it was his political profession that influenced his return. “I’ve spent the final 10 years within the political world, and I am cured of that. I obtained to a spot the place I could not abdomen the political factor,” he shared with Selection in November 2024. “All people’s music sooner or later turns into dated, however Christmas survives. If I’ll be gone for 15-to-20 years, I wish to come again to one thing that is timeless.” Additionally? There are different issues he desires to do, together with voice performing. “I’ve all the time needed to voice a cartoon,” he continued. “I am good buddies with Lea Salonga, the voice of Mulan and Jasmine. I am nonetheless jealous of her for that. I’ve a novel talking voice too, so I might be good for some ‘King of the Hill’-type character.”