Clay Aiken might not have received ‘American Idol’ however his odds could also be higher for the race for congress. Right here’s all the things it is advisable to know in regards to the singer-turned-politician.
Clay Aiken is again within the limelight now that he’s operating for congress. The previous American Idol contestant is campaigning for a seat in congress for the state of North Carolina. The self-proclaimed progressive broke the information to his followers on Twitter. “Are you able to consider it’s been nearly 20 years since I first obtained to share my voice with you? That’s a very long time. A LOT has modified! We'd like highly effective voices greater than ever, so I’m operating for Congress. And my voice is even stronger now! ;-)” he wrote together with a video of him reintroducing himself to the world.
Are you able to consider it has been nearly 20 years since I first obtained to share my voice with you? That is a very long time. A LOT has modified!
We'd like highly effective voices greater than ever, so I am operating for Congress.
And my voice is even stronger now! ;-) #JoinTheChorushttps://t.co/aQIm8a2xuZpic.twitter.com/xBtN2CYF30
— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) January 10, 2022
The North Carolina native hopes to be “the South’s first homosexual congressman,” as he said in his marketing campaign video. He additionally addressed stopping local weather change, systemic racism, gun violence and payments that suppress voter rights whereas championing free healthcare and “ladies’s proper to decide on.” Clay has till Could 2022 to sway voters his means for the first. Till then, right here’s all the things it is advisable to know in regards to the man who could also be filling Rep. David Worth‘s seat.
1. Clay Nearly Received ‘American Idol.’
Clay Aiken is finest identified for competing on Season 2 of American Idol. He had a formidable run on the present and nearly received the entire thing. Nonetheless, he got here in second place and was a runner-up to Ruben Studdard. It began again when Clay auditioned for the present in Atlanta, Georgia singing the track “At all times and Perpetually” by Heatwave. He managed to keep away from touchdown within the backside three for the complete competitors as a result of his energy ballads potential and transformation from geek to stylish all through the course of the season. Despite the fact that he misplaced out to Ruben, he went on to file a variety of albums together with Measure of a Man and A Thousand Completely different Phrases. His most up-to-date album is titled Steadfast and it was recorded in 2012. A few of his largest hit singles embrace “Invisible,” “That is the Night time” and “A Thousand Days.”
2. Clay Has Run For A Authorities Place Earlier than.
This isn’t Clay’s first political marketing campaign rodeo. He beforehand ran for the U.S. Home of Representatives in 2014 however misplaced. On the time, he was thought of a longshot since he was operating for a place beforehand dominated by Republicans in a conservative district. This time round, his place was beforehand held by Democrat David Worth. He has made it clear that politics is the place his focus today over music. His social media pages are full of political commentary. Just lately, Clay mocked former President Donald Trump following his loss within the 2020 election. Clay joked that he tried to win extra votes after he misplaced American Idol nevertheless it didn’t work for him both.
3. Clay Has One Child.
Clay is the daddy of his 13-year-old son named Parker Foster Austin. Clay and his good friend and sister of David Foster, Jaymes Foster conceived Parker through in vitro fertilization and Jaymes gave start to Parker on August 8, 2008. “The little man is wholesome, completely happy, and as loud as his daddy,” he wrote on his weblog on the time. “Mama Jaymes is doing fairly properly additionally.” Other than saying his start, Clay tends to maintain Parker out of the general public eye.
4. Clay Has A Basis For Kids With Particular Wants.
In 2003, Clay launched a basis for kids with particular wants known as the Baubel/Aiken basis that advocated for inclusion for kids with particular wants. By the point 2009 got here round, he modified the muse’s identify to the Nationwide Inclusion Venture which nonetheless runs to at the present time. “EVERY youngster can take part, EVERY youngster could make a good friend and EVERY youngster can succeed. With these beliefs in thoughts, we’ve made it our mission to make the inclusion of youngsters with disabilities the EXPECTATION, not the exception,” based on the web site’s mission assertion. “We work with group organizations and leisure applications, offering them with the coaching, instruments, and help they want in order that kids with disabilities may be included in ALL of their actions and applications.”
5. Clay Was On Broadway.
Clay had a short stint on Broadway in 2008. Clay graced Broadway’s Shubert Theatre’s stage as Sir Robin in Monty Python‘s Spamalot. When he was first solid, the musical’s director Mike Nicols raved about Clay’s expertise. “Clay Aiken is wonderful past that superb voice. Seems he is a wonderful comedian actor and a grasp of character,” mentioned in a launch to Playbill. “Folks shall be stunned by his large ranging expertise, for the reason that first impression is of nice nation attraction and a singer to recollect. This man isn't solely a star, he's much more. We're fortunate to get him for Spamalot.”