Biography: Clay Aiken: birth name: born Clayton Holmes Grissom on November 30, 1978 in  Raleigh, North Carolina; height: 6 feet 1 (185 cm);  Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius. Aiken rose to fame as a contestant of American Idol in 2003.

photo: PR Photos

Aiken has become the most successful male and the most successful runner-up in American Idol’s history up to this date. He has launched many tours, performed on Broadway, on TV and has authored a New York Times best-selling book Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life with Allison Glock.

For years, Aiken has dodged questions about whether he is homosexual despite persistent rumors on the subject. He has said that his sexuality was nobody’s business but his own.

On September 23rd, a photo of the cover of People magazine’s upcoming issue on which Aiken is photographed with his son, Parker Foster Aiken.

The caption reads “Yes, I’m Gay,” and underneath is a quote from Aiken on his decision to come out of the closet that says: “I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things.”

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