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.

Follow Jo on Twitter

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

Comments

(52)

Monday 31 May

By JoeyO'H

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

"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." - Clay Aiken.

Well, that seemed to be okay when he did the People Magazine cover two years ago with his earth shattering news- and got paid for it too!

I guess it's not news when his name isn't mentioned in the article.

Tuesday 01 June

By Kat

Vote down Vote up Report this

Joey O'H, I had the exact same thought.

By MaryJoanne123

So happy about the new album by Clay and the direction he is taking. His voice was made for this type of music. Can't wait for the album and the summer tour.

By ItsMyOwnOpinion

Clay will be on ABC, Good Morning America June 1.

By boots

Thanks for a great article with an update of one of my favourite singers.
My husband and I are looking forward to his and Ruben's Reno concert.

By Emily

Thanks for sharing this interview with us. I saw the PBS special taping in Raleigh and already have my ticket for Clay's performance in Aug. Tomorrow the CD drops and I'll be in line to purchase it (besides having ordered it a month ago on Amazon.)
Clay's voice is perfect and so is he!

Wednesday 02 June

By Clay Day

Clay Aiken, is simply the best. He is finally singing the songs, that show his vocal range and abilities. Another review which is a great review to read is from Front Stage.
Clay Aiken Tried and True: Songs for You

Wednesday 09 June

By Pat

Was at his PBS special taping - what a FANTASTIC evening. Hope everyone can watch it on TV, it is a superb show. And Clay has never sounded better. Am really looking forward to seeing him and Ruben together on tour.........two nice guys, with two of the most beautiful voices around.

Tuesday 08 June

By katy

Clay Aiken can sing the bejezzus out of a song and does it on this album. Yes, he's gay....so what?

Saturday 26 June

By Leslie Binder

Does anyone know if his summer tour includes Atlanta, I wouldn't want to miss him.

Wednesday 04 August

By belle start

Clay Aike has the worst voice I've ever heard and ruining all my oldies I loved, be can't sing. And that plastic surgery, how many cc's of botex did he have in his weird face, go away Clay and never ruin my songs I like again. You suck

Tuesday 10 August

By JAN

I m happy he's done this interview. I went to the Ruben/ Clay Concert at MGM in Ct. It was AWESOME!! I went to see Clay (been a fan since the 1st time I saw him on IDOL) & they really made a great duo - played well off each other & sounded wonderful- they had the joint rockin!!! Dont miss this tour!!!

Page 3 of 3