Clay Aiken, an American singer, and television personality, never addressed the gay rumors in public. His son’s birth, on the other hand, shifted his perspective and encouraged him to come out.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Clay Aiken |
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1978 |
| Age | 45 years old |
| Height/How tall? | 6 feet |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, actor, author, and philanthropist |
| Father Name | N/A |
| Mother Name | N/A |
| Gender Identity | Gay |
| Is Married? | Yes |
| Is Gay? | Yes |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
Clay Aiken Net worth
Clay Aiken’s net worth is about $10 million as of January 2024.
Coming Out As Gay Following the Birth of Son
Aiken kept his sexuality hidden from everyone, including his family. He only came out to his mother in early 2000. Clay was returning home with his mother after dropping off his younger brother, Brett Parker, at Camp Lejeune. He cried on the way because he was thinking about his suppressed emotions.
His mother demanded that he pull over and explain what was wrong. He revealed his sexuality to her after a brief argument. Despite his confusion, his mother supported and comforted him. A year later, he came out to his brother as gay as well. Fortunately, his brother was also on his side. That, however, was insufficient.
Aikens still lacked the confidence to open up about his sexuality in public. He never addressed the gay rumors that circulated around his name. It all changed on August 8, 2008, when Clay Aiken gave birth to a son, Parker Foster Aiken, through in-vitro fertilization with a friend and music producer, Jaymes Foster.
In September 2008, following the birth of his son, he came out and detailed his coming out story in an interview with PEOPLE.
Clay Aiken’s Boyfriend: Who Is He?
Reed Kelly, a Broadway dancer, was Clay’s first reported boyfriend. He met his partner while working on Spamalot in early 2008. In November 2008, the two appeared together on Rosie O’Donnell’s Building Dreams for Kids. After two years of dating, they divorced in 2010. The break-up became clear after Aiken’s MySpace bio’s relationship status was changed to single.’
He was rumored to be dating Jeff Walter the same year. They were spotted together at the Dallas Winter Festival. The couple, however, never confirmed their relationship.
From a small-town band to American Idol
Clayton Holmes Grissom, born on November 30, 1978, began singing at a young age, performing in school choirs, musicals, and local theater productions. After high school, he began singing as the lead singer of a local band called Just By Chance. In Raleigh, the band performed at the NHL All-Star Game.
Clay entered American Idol after a friend insisted that he do so, surprising the judges with his rendition of Always and Forever. The Raleigh, North Carolina native advanced to the 32nd round before being knocked out. He later came back for a Wild Card round. His rendition of Elton John’s Doesn’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me advanced him to the final twelve.
The singer finished second to Ruben Studdard, who had won the competition in May 2003. In October 2003, he released his debut album, ‘Measure of a Man.’ The album was certified multi-platinum. He went on to release four albums on the RCA label, including ‘Merry Christmas with Love,’ ‘A Thousand Different Ways,’ ‘All is Well,’ and ‘On My Way Here.’
Clay went on to record two more albums for Decca Records, Tried and True and Steadfast. He sold over 5 million records and went on eleven tours to promote his albums. He is the fourth best-selling artist among all American Idol alums.
What is Clay Aiken up to these days?
The reality star is best known for his performance as the runner-up on the second season of the singing competition American Idol in 2003. After achieving fame through singing, he made a dramatic career change and became involved in politics. In the 2014 midterm elections, he was the Democratic Party’s candidate for North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district.
He is involved in philanthropy, including UNICEF contributions, and he fights for gay rights. The Mary, Did You Know singer also hosts the Politicon podcast “How the Heck Are We Gonna Get Along?” on a weekly basis.
