Clay Aiken Biography

Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Clay Aiken began singing at an early age in the local school choirs, church choirs, and theater productions. With his mother’s support, having covered the cost of studio time as a birthday gift, he recorded three demo albums even before his groundbreaking appearance on American Idol.

Clay Aiken enchanted audiences with his heart-stopping performance of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters” on American Idol in 2003. His talents garnered him a deal with RCA even before the show concluded, and Aiken’s debut single, “This Is the Night” was released immediately, going to number one on the charts. Aiken’s first studio album, Measure of a Man, was released in October of 2003 and sold over half a million copies during its first week. Additional albums from Aikens followed: Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), On My Way Here (2008), and The Very Best of Clay Aiken (2009), Tried and True (2010) and Steadfast (2012.)

Between 2003 and 2012, Clay Aiken performed for ten tours and a variety of television specials and appearances, including A Clay Aiken Christmas in 2004 and Tried & True Live! for PBS in 2010. He has also appeared as a guest star on Drop Dead Diva, 30 Rock, and Scrubs, and even made his Broadway debut in Spamalot on Broadway in 2008. Additional theater work includes his North Carolina performance in The Drowsy Chaperone, and his role as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Maine.

In recent years, Clay Aiken has become equally well-known for his innumerous charities and philanthropic endeavors, including his UNICEF ambassadorship and work for LGBTQ awareness and rights. In 2014, Clay took his values and commitments to the political arena, running for Congress for North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district. Aiken won the primary but lost marginally to the Republican incumbent in the general election.

Today, Clay Aiken continues to record, perform, and contribute to the causes most near and dear to his heart. He is now a frequent contributor to a number of political news networks and indicates that he has plans to run for office again in the near future.