Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken confirmed that he was gay in an interview with People's Magazine in September 2008.

Clay is one of only two non winners on American Idol to never be in the bottom group. The other was David Archuletta in Season 7.

Clay is set to guest star in an episode of Days Of Our Lives, where he will serenade characters Steve and Kayla with a song from his new album, as well as O Holy Night on the December 22nd episode.

According to the US Patent & Trademark Office's Trademark Electronic Search System, Clay had the term CLAYMATES (a word used in reference to his fanbase) legally trademarked.

In September 2006, Clay was appointed to a presidential committee by President George W. Bush, the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. It was founded in 1961 by John F. Kennedy as the President's Panel on Mental Retardation.

In 2004, the North Carolina Museum of history displayed some Clay memorabilia, an outfit that he had worn on American Idol for one performance.

Clay co-wrote 2 songs on his album A Thousand Different Ways - 'Lonely No More' and 'Lover All Alone' (the latter is only available as an iTunes bonus with the purchase of the album)

Clay is featured on the 2004 DVD release of the Disney animated classic Aladdin. He performs the song Proud Of Your Boy, brought out from the Disney Vault.

Songs Clay sang on American Idol (from last to first): Bridge Over Troubled Water Here, There and Everywhere This Is The Night Unchained Melody Mack The Knife Vincent Grease To Love Somebody Solitaire Build Me Up Buttercup I Could Not Ask For More Tell Her About It At This Moment Everlasting Love Someone Else's Star Somewhere Out There I Can't Help Myself Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me Open Arms

In December 2004, Clay starred in his first TV special 'A Clay Aiken Christmas' guest starring Barry Manilow, Yolanda Adams, and Megan Mullally. He was also Executive Producer for the Christmas special, which was released on DVD shortly after airing.

As of October 2006, Clay has a second border terrier named Durham.

Clay made it to the finals on 'American Idol' via his audition in Atlanta, Georgia. Before that, though, he was rejected in an earlier audition in Charlotte, North Carolina and only went to Atlanta when a friend persuaded him to.

Clay's audition number on 'American Idol' was #5230.

On Sept 19, 2006, Clay's 3rd album "A Thousand Different Ways" debuted and finished 2nd on the Billboard album charts. It sold over 205,000 copies its first week. Clay is only the 4th artist in history to have his first three albums debut in the Top 5 on the Billboard Charts and sell at least 200,000 copies in their repective first weeks of release.

Clay's second album was scheduled to be released on May 9th, 2006. It was delayed due to a lawsuit against the record company filed by fans.

According to his interview on CNN, Clay's parents were separated when he was one year old. He spent most of his time with his mother and grandmother.

According to a poll conducted by TV Guide and Bravo in 2005, Clay was voted the most-loved star of all time from a reality show.

In December 2004, Clay Aiken's songs are made available for cell phone ringtones through Sony Mobile.

In November 2004, Clay had to postpone his first Joyful Noise Tour due to vocal cord damage. Clay had ear and sinus infections at the time.

Clay is one of Rolling Stone's "People Of The Year 2003."

In September 2003, Clay Aiken received an American Music Awards nomination for Favorite Male Artist.

Clay Aiken is one of the faces on the Plash Mastercard debit card through First Premier Bank.

In 2004, Clay had his first solo tour. The 2004 Summer Tour was sponsored by Disney.

The song that sent Clay to Hollywood in his American Idol audition was Always and Forever.

Clay is the ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Clay was appointed U.S. Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador in 2004.

In 2005, Clay has two tours -- The JukeBox Tour (summer) and The Joyful Noise 2005 Tour (winter).

In the 2005 American Christian Music Awards, Clay won the Outstanding Yule CD for his album Merry Christmas With Love

In the 2003 American Music Awards, Clay was nominated for Favorite Male Artist, Pop or Rock.

Some Clay fans call themselves "Claymates".

During the Fashion Week in September 2005, Aiken became a celebrity guest of designer Kenneth Cole.

In 2004, Clay's Christmas album Merry Christmas With Love debuts at #4 on the Billboard.

Clay won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards ceremony in 2003.

Aiken's first album Measure of a Man debuts at #1 on the Billboard.

Clay's original last name was Grissom; he later took his mother's maiden name.

Clay's new book, "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life," debuts at No. 2 on the New York Times Bestseller Lists for Hardcover Nonfiction in November 2005.

Clay says that Los Angeles makes him feel lonely.

When asked about his building a home in NC, Clay says, "Whether this ride lasts for one year or ten years, I want to have a home base."

Clay likes to do charity work (he is a UNICEF ambassador). He recently visited Northern Uganda.

Clay recently completed a week long trip to Uganda as a UNICEF celebrity goodwell ambassador. His trip focused primarily on eastern and northern Uganda, where he toured IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, night commuter shelters, and a reception camp for returned children who had previously been abducted.

Clay's "Jukebox Tour" kicked off in Toms River, New Jersey, on July 28, 2005.