Clay Aiken
News (Page 2)

Just because the latest season of American Idol has kicked off, it doesn't mean we've forgotten our past favorites.

Here is your first look at Clay Aiken as Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot:

“Clay is amazing, beyond that glorious voice,” said director Mike Nichols. “Turns out he is an excellent comic actor and a master of character. People are going to be surprised by his wide-ranging talent, since the first impression is of great country charm and a singer to remember. This guy is not only a star; he is a lot more. We’re lucky to get him for Spamalot!”

Clay hits the Broadway stage for the first time this Friday, January 18.

Clay Aiken has been involved in a few dust-ups over the last few months. Remember the Kelly Ripa feud?

Newsweek certainly does, as it tried to get the former American Idol runner-up to comment in a couple of incidents during the recent interview. But Aiken wasn't exactly in the mood to talk about any of it:

How did you get into a fight with that lady on a plane? I’m not going to talk about it.

I was just curious because you’ve never talked about it. I did talk about it.

What about the Kelly Ripa thing? I’m not going to discuss it.

Did you think it was homophobic? I’m not going to discuss it.

What do you want to talk about? I think we’re done.

Can we talk about something fun? No, we’re done. I thought Newsweek would be more reputable. I’m surprised.

But I think people are curious about it. It was a year ago. This is Newsweek. It’s not the National Enquirer. I’d hate to have a job where I had to be rude to people.

I’ll change the subject. What do you do for fun? I watch the news. I read news magazines, but I’m reconsidering that now.

Read the full interview with Clay now.

Former American Idol finalist and UNICEF ambassador Clay Aiken spent Christmas with his mother and brother visiting flood victims in southeast Mexico.

UNICEF said Aiken participated in a gift exchange and sing-along with more than 300 children and their families at a camp erected for flood victims in the city of Ostuacan Tuesday. This comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with Aiken's work and attitude.

Aiken, his mother and brother (a Marine on leave from Iraq) will also be part of a UNICEF delegation scheduled to visit the state of Tabasco this week.

"The situation in Chiapas and Tabasco has really become a forgotten emergency," Aiken said in a statement. "Telling the story of these brave people, especially the children, to a U.S. audience is the reason that I am here. Sharing this experience with my family during this time of year makes it even more special."

A critique from Simon Cowell doesn't seem so bad right about now, does it?

Struggling to keep his balance, Clay Aiken gets a lesson on ice from Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen earlier this week.

These two were on hand for a taping of the Capitol One Holiday Celebration on Ice at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Clay Aiken is coming to Broadway.

The American Idol second-season runner-up will play the role of Sir Robin in Monty Python's Spamalot, making his debut in the Tony Award-winning musical on January 18 at the Shubert Theatre.

"I really couldn't have asked for a more wonderful group of people to work with," said Aiken. "Let's not lie, the chance to work with legendary creative minds like [Spamalot director] Mike Nichols and [Spamalot co-author] Eric Idle is, on its own, a reason to jump at this opportunity. But, that's not all.

The producers and creative folks I have had the chance to meet and work with so far have been unbelievably welcoming and wonderful. They've really made me feel at home already, and I haven't even started yet!"

The 28-year-old will appear in the musical until May 4.

"Clay Aiken is amazing beyond that glorious voice. Turns out he is an excellent comic actor and a master of character," said Nichols. "People will be surprised by his wide ranging talent, since the first impression is of great country charm and a singer to remember. This guy is not only a star, he is a lot more. We are lucky to get him for Spamalot."

FOX knows marketing.

Looking to capitalize on a pair of its hit reality shows, the network has asked two American Idol finalists to appear on a charity version of the quiz show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

In November, host Jeff Foxworthy will quiz Clay Aiken and Kellie Pickler on their knowledge of basic geography, history, science, math and English. It should be fun.

Billy Bush, Regis Philbin and Tony Hawk are also scheduled to appear.

Clay Aiken is nothing if not original.

Need proof? Here's a clip of him performing the Justin Timberlake classic, "SexyBack." It's very entertaining:

Clay Aiken was involved an odd dustup on an airplane over the weekend.

The former American Idol's midair spat with a woman on a flight to Tulsa, Oklahoma, prompted an FBI query but did not result in any charges, E! Online reports. Here's what allegedly went down:

The 28-year-old singer was on a Continental Airlines flight Saturday morning bound for Tulsa International Airport, when he got into an altercation with a female passenger after she complained about his foot on her armrest.

The woman then supposedly gave Aiken a "minor shove" during the dispute, FBI Special Agent Gary Johnson told the newspaper, but that was about the extent of it.

"At that point, the flight crew was able to resolve the situation," he said.

According to the Tulsa Airport Authority, both passengers were detained until FBI agents arrived to question them. No one was injured in the tussle.

The feds sent the results of its probe to the U.S. Attorney's Office, but since neither passenger interfered with the flight crew, no charges were filed. While performing later that day at Tulsa's Brady Theater, Aiken quipped onstage about getting roughed up by a girl.

His publicist and manager could not be reached for comment.

Clay Aiken is currently in the midst of a nationwide tour aided by local symphonies. It kicked off July 4 in Dallas and wraps Aug. 19 in Orlando.

As he goes across the nation on his “Soft Rock in a Heard Place Tour 2007," Clay Aiken is throwing a fun wrinkle into his song sets.

At his latest concert in Frisco, Texas on Tuesday, for example, the Claymates went wild over a melody of classic tunes this American Idol runner-up put together. They were:

#1 - “Baby Got Back” - Sir Mix-a-lot
#2 - “Like A Virgin” - Madonna
#3 - “Bills, Bills, Bills” - Destiny’s Child
#4 - “1999″ - Prince
#5 - “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” - Kenny Chesney
#6 - “Oops…I Did It Again” - Britney Spears
#7 - “OPP” - Naughty By Nature
#8 - “Yeah” - Usher
#9 - “SexyBack” - Justin Timberlake
#10 - “Achey Breaky Heart” - Billy Ray Cyrus
#11 - “Beat It” - Michael Jackson

Take a look below at Clay in concert, singing these classics:

Clay Aiken fans are nothing if not dedicated.

Just check out this report from Buddy TV, which says “Idol: The Musical” is moving to an off-Broadway engagement on Manhattan's 45th street this July. The play, about a group of teens who idolize former contestant Clay Aiken will begin a test run at the 45th Street Theatre on July 5th.

The press notes for the musical describe it as follows:

Idol: The Musical is "a satirical musical comedy that focuses on the outrageous and delusional fan base of the hit television show. The musical takes place in Steubenville, Ohio where a group of dork-like students are preparing for their high school graduation after which they are determined to drag themselves out of the dregs of the middle-of-nowhere. There are eight of them; all belonging to the same cult-like club that meets daily in a barn that doubles as a shrine to Clay Aiken.

They are actively ridiculed by the rest of Steubenville; a humiliating situation that doesn't deter their quest for all things Clay. They are victims of A.D.D., Ritalin, their misguided obsessions and their innocent longing for their elusive '15 minutes.'”

If you ever wanted any proof at how unfathomably big American Idol is in our culture, the existence of a musical based on the worship of a former contestant (who really isn't all that famous, really) is enough to gage its magnitude.