Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken (né Grissom) is a singer, actor and former congressional candidate best known as the runner-up on Season 2 of American Idol and for his hit single “Invisible.” Aiken spent his childhood in North Carolina, where he performed in church and at local theater productions growing up. He went on to earn a degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Aiken rose to national fame in 2003 after competing on season 2 of American Idol, ultimately finishing second to Ruben Studdard. He quickly became a fan favorite during his time on the show, and following his second place finish he signed with RCA Records and released his debut album Measure of a Man (2003), which went multi-platinum.

His subsequent albums include A Thousand Different Ways (2006) and On My Way Here (2008). He made his Broadway debut in the Tony-winning production Spamalot in 2008 and later appeared on Celebrity Apprentice in 2012, finishing as runner-up.

The singer also had a brief stint in politics. In 2014, he ran for Congress in North Carolina, ultimately losing to Renee Ellmers. He launched another campaign in 2022. He has been involved in various advocacy and charitable efforts, particularly related to education and LGBTQ+ rights.

In 2008, Aiken welcomed son Parker Foster Aiken with friend and music producer Jaymes Foster. He publicly came out as gay that same year. He was later linked to Reed Kelly.