Clay Aiken's Summer Plans: Touring and a New Album

By Jo Piazza Posted May 30th 2010 09:22AM

Clay Aiken has a busy summer in front of him. The former American Idol has grown up a lot since he was the runner up on the second season of the show.

Two years ago, Clay's whole world changed when he became a father for the first time. In June, he will launch his first tour since his son Parker's August 2008 birth: a co-headlining jaunt with good friend (another former Idol) Ruben Studdard. His fifth album, "Tried and True"comprised of songs from the 50s and 60s that Aiken grew up listening to as a child comes out next week.

Celebenomics took some time to chat with Clay about his tour, his album, branding himself post 'Idol,' how having a baby has made him a savvier business man and how he has managed to never catch an episode of 'Glee.' "With the exception of CNN and the stuff on NBC on Thursday nights and that I don't watch too much TV," he says.

Celebenomics: How did you and Ruben decide to do this co-headlining tour together?
Clay: We've stayed in touch for seven years and we really just got to the point that we had been saying we wanted to tour and sing together for years and we realized we had this summer free so we said 'Let's jump on this.' We decided we will sing the songs we love and the songs people recognize, not album tracks we have had in the past, but songs people know that are recognizable and timeless.

Celebenomics: Is Parker coming along?
Clay: No. Not coming along this time.

Celebenomics: Has being a dad influenced your music?
Clay: Not my music. I don't sing about being a father or fatherhood. I think it does make me a little more responsible and it makes me think about business a little more than I have in the past. I used to do things because I wanted to and now I pick apart the budget a little more. I realize I have to put this kid through college.

Celebenomics: You did something really smart with your last album that got you some flak. You sold it on QVC. I think it was a brilliant move to take it directly to the people who were buying your album. Is that why you did it? To get your audience where they shop?
Clay: I think its important to stay in our own lane and cater to the people who have gotten us to this point and do it in a way that allows other folks to familiarize themselves with what we do. I think there is a push for new artists to focus on the top forty market and to try to get a hit on the radio and cater to the younger demographic and I don't think that is me. I'm not saying our audience is old. You can have mature people in their twenties but I find that folks who are more settled in their lives and are more mature have tastes that aren't as fickle and they tend to support the artists they enjoy. We don't deny them that.

Celebenomics: Besides the album and the tour what else is on your plate for this summer?
Clay: The album has been pretty all consuming and occupied my time for the past six months and now this tour will be occupying my summer. In the fall we will be putting together a tour for the album and all summer I will be stopping off at local PBS stations to promote my PBS special.

Celebenomics: In 2009 you parted ways with RCA and picked Decca as your new label. How did you choose them?
Clay: We had a few folks who were talking about forming a relationship and what was most appealing about Decca is that they have a group of artists, some of them you know, some you may not know. They have artists like Boys to Men, Andrea Bocelli and Rufus Wainwright. It's an eclectic group and none of them fit into one category. Decca is very good at allowing its artists to figure out what they want to do. I think they are good about embracing the adult market and they allowed me the freedom to do what I wanted to do. They didn't tell me I had to put a certain song on an album and make this one a remix and so forth.

Celebenomics: Are there any artists you want to collaborate with?
Clay: Trisha Yearwood. She may not be the first person you think of but she has an incredible voice. And Cyndi Lauper who has been active in causes that are important to her and I both.

Celebenomics: I would love to see you as a guest performer on "Glee" performing some of these old standards off your album?
Clay: I've never seen it.

Celebenomics: What (jaw drops)?
Clay: My television is typically tuned to CNN. I watch "The Closer". I want to be on "The Closer" real bad. I'm addicted to it. With the exception of CNN and the stuff on NBC on Thursday nights and that I don't watch too much TV.

Celebenomics: Since you came out have you had fans write in and talk to you to let you know that your coming out of the closet has helped them?
Clay: Not so much. It is helpful and I understand why it could be helpful. But I think the more fuss is made about it the less it normalizes it. The truth is that being gay is not news. it should be something that we strive to normalize. It's nothing we need to broadcast. It's a fine line. I do understand the benefit but I hope for the days when it is not news and not a headline.

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Tags: American Idol, clay aiken, Glee, ruben studdard

Comments

(52)

Sunday 30 May

By Josh

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I really like this guys. He's down to earth and keeps it real.

A Cyndi Lauper colab? Now that would be something to see.

Sunday 25 July

By Josh98

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This guy is washed up, he sings oldies, give me a friggin break. He lies to get through life...sad, sad, person.

By deb

I'm so excited that Clay will be touring in the fall to support his new album, Tried and True! And I'll be seeing him on tour this summer too! I'm in Clay heaven right now. Thanks for this great article!

By mark

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What a horrible picture of Clay. He looks like William Hung with blonde hair!
The woman who write the article is not much better. She writes like she is writing for a high school newspaper.
WHERE does AOL find these people and who did she have to blow to get the job?

By MagicalMusic

Thanks so much for this interview. I'm excited that Clay has a 2nd tour planned for later this year to promote his new CD being released June 1st.

I meant
"The woman who writes the article is not much better"

By Sooze

Looking forward to the new CD, the Summer tour, the PBS Special and the tour for Tried and True! I would love to hear Clay sing with Cyndi Lauper, I think that would be awesome!

Thanks for the great interview!

By Megan

It's good to know that Clay Aiken is going to have a new CD, a PBS special and a tour!!! He has the best voice I have ever heard! He's a good guy too!

Monday 31 May

By Teresa

Thanks for the interview with Clay. He always seems so smart and down to earth. I hope that he and Ruben will be touring near me. I'd love to see them.

By Darlene53

Clay is not only a talented singer; he is wise beyond his years. Genuinely nice, happy people are such a joy.

By Samantha Lehman

If you don't agree with me, then you do NOT have an ear for music; i.e., Clay is without any doubts the best singer of all AI. The kids has really got a set of pipes. Sure some of the songs AI had him sing weren't anything special, but for the group of us who watched, we all had chills. It's been difficult to watch the show these past seasons, I mean, how do you top Clay Aiken?

By Bob

He's really a queer.

By Jess

Is that a problem for you?

By Mimi

Thanks for the great interview with Clay Aiken. It is great to read about someone who is not only talented, but intelligent and caring.

I am looking forward to his new album and I hope I can see him on tour this summer.

Jo.......thank you for the fair and exciting article on Clay.

By Phyllis

Wait till you hear Clay's PBS Special. I was at the taping, and it was unbelievable. The man's voice is incredible. Thank you, Decca, for seeing the great talent in this man!

By Cookie0

You can't top Clay Aiken, they should stop trying. And if nothing else came out of this article thank goodness Clay will be touring for his new album, Yippee! Nothing like the Aiken voice LIVE!

Tuesday 01 June

By Jackie

Clay Aiken is a fantastic singer. He simply has a beautiful voice.

By kara

I'm so excited to hear this new cd and see Clay on tour. I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you!

By emma

I think Clay is ill advised as to what his long time fans actually want to hear from him. Yes some would sit and listen to him sing the phone book but I believe that most fans would prefer to hear him putting his signature style to his own music, not covers, not old songs. I find covers to be an extremely lazy road to travel.

By Stan

Clay isn't a jukebox where you can program him to sing what you want. He says this is the kind of music he loves. Take it or leave it but quit making your difference in taste his fault.

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