On November 30, 1978, Clay Aiken(full name Clayton Holmes Grisson) was born. Who is a Democratic political candidate, actor, singer, and activist from the United States? As of now, Aiken’s age is 44 years. In his professional singing career, he placed second on American Idol’s second season in 2003, and his debut album, Measure of a Man, achieved multi-platinum status.
After that, he continued to record albums on the RCA label, and the general public well-received several of them. Eleven tours in support of Aiken’s albums have taken place. He is the fourth-highest-selling American Idol alum, with over 5 million albums sold.
In 2004, Aiken co-wrote a best-selling book. A Clay Aiken Christmas, a television Christmas special, was also produced by him in 2004. He played Sir Robin in the musical comedy Spamalot on Broadway for most of 2008. He presided over the PBS show Tried & True Live in 2010. He has made many cameo and guest appearances on TV shows.
He participated in The Celebrity Apprentice’s fifth season in 2012, finishing behind Arsenio Hall. In 2003, Aiken and Diane Bubel founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, subsequently known as the National Inclusion Project. He was appointed a UNICEF ambassador in 2004 and served in that role until 2013.
After he resigned from that position after he entered politics and went to Congress, he did a lot of traveling for this job. He was named to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2006 for a two-year term.
Clay Aiken’s Early life and Education
Raleigh, North Carolina, is where Clay Aiken was born and nurtured. Aiken sang in the Raleigh Boychoir when he was a little child, and as a teenager, he participated in musicals, school choruses, church choirs, and regional theatre shows. After graduating high school, he performed and co-hosted “Just by Chance and Friends” events in Dunn, North Carolina, with the local band Just By Chance, singing lead.
Additionally, he served as MC and performer at the North Carolina Music Connection and Hometown Music Connection events in Garner and Benson and the Johnston Community College Country Showcase in Smithfield.
He frequently sang the national anthem for the Raleigh IceCaps and Carolina Hurricanes hockey clubs. He also sang it at the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh at the RBC Center. With the help of studio time his mother gave him for his birthday, Aiken produced three demo albums of his singing before appearing on American Idol: Look What Love Has Done by Clayton Grissom on tape, Redefined by Clayton Aiken on cassette and CD, and Look What Love Has Done, Vol. 2 on CD by Clay Aiken. With the approval of his mother and grandfather, Alvis Aiken, and separated from his abusive birth father, Vernon Grissom, at the age of 19, he legally changed his surname from Grissom to his mother Faye’s maiden name, Aiken.
Clay Aiken’s career
Career as a singer –
In addition, he has expanded his career as a politician, actor, musician, and activist. His first record as a singer was called Measure of a Man. He then made an appearance in the Christmas Day Parade in 2003. The next year, he also created the TV program ‘A Clay Aiken Christmas.’ Then he issued Merry Christmas With Love, a festive CD.
His albums include Tried and True (2010), On My Way Here (2012), The Very Best of Clay Aiken (2008), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), All Is Well (2006), and On My Way Here (2008). (2009). Similar to that, Bring Back My Love is his new single for 2011. In 2012, the musician debuted his latest track, Steadfast.
Extra Career –
In 2004, he released a book named Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life. He performed as himself in Ed while working as an actor. Then he made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, and Days of our Lives.
In addition, he participated as a celebrity in The Celebrity Apprentice’s fifth season. He has also had the opportunity to work for RCA Records and Decca Records. Unexpectedly, he served as a National Inclusion Project ambassador. Similarly, he made his Broadway debut with Spamalot, which is how he started on Broadway. In it, he played the part of Sir Robin.
Who is Clay Aiken married to?
At the moment, Clay Aiken is not married. However, he has freely acknowledged being gay. He asserted in People Magazine. In 2008, he publicly came out as gay for the first time. His previous relationship lasted from 2010 to 2011 with Jeff Walters. He dated Devin Finn in 2010. Likewise, from 2008 to 2010, he maintained a connection with Reed Kelly. In 2003, he was also with Jaymes Foster-Levy.
Furthermore, he is the father of Parker Foster Aiken. By using in-vitro fertilization, he and Jaymes Foster had a kid together.
Clay Aiken and politics
2014 Congressional election –
Aiken contested as the Democratic Party’s nominee for North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district in the 2014 midterm elections. On May 6, 2014, the Democratic primary was held. He won it by fewer than 400 votes. Keith Crisco, his biggest rival, passed away a few days after the primary election but before the results could be officially tallied. Aiken lost to Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers in the general election on November 4, 2014, 59 to 41 percent. The second district in North Carolina is regarded as a stronghold for Republicans. The 2015 documentary miniseries The Runner-Up, aired on the Esquire Network, featured footage from Aiken’s campaign.
Also Read: Derrick Grace Wife – Name, Age, bio, Family
Aiken has become more politically active after coming out as homosexual in 2008, mainly about same-sex marriage and gay rights. He came out against North Carolina Amendment 1, which outlawed gay marriage and civil unions in the state and was passed in 2012. However, when he campaigned for Congress, he claimed he did not want to be seen as a candidate with a single subject and that homosexual marriage was “not the topic” he was running on. He claimed that he wanted to concentrate on topics that were more crucial to the residents of his district. He received criticism for his claim from several same-sex marriage proponents, including Bill Maher. Aiken supported Donald Trump against claims of racism during the 2016 presidential campaign by referencing his appearance on The Apprentice. However, Aiken issued an apology for denying Trump was racist after the Unite the Right demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. She even went so far as to add, “I’m a fucking dumbass.” Aiken reaffirmed his status as a Democrat and stated he did not support Trump.
2022 Congressional election –
In a video titled “Warming Up, “ Aiken said he would seek the Democratic candidacy for the 4th congressional district of North Carolina. If the loudest and most vicious voices believe they will speak for us, tell them I’m warming up the old vocal cords, Aiken is heard saying in this video. Aiken placed third in the eight-candidate Democratic primary but was overshadowed by two other Democratic contenders, state senator Valerie Foushee and Durham County commissioner Nida Allam.
Clay Aiken’s net worth 2023
Some sources of information estimate Clay Aiken’s net worth to be $7 million. He also has a home in Durham, North Carolina. It is $1,590,000. His home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and three half bathrooms within its 9,392 square feet.
World Wire Stories
Also Read:
Subscribe to Email Updates :
Add Comment