With the hype of celebrity plastic surgery surrounding his person, the effeminate 33-year-old Clay shrugs it off as part of the job. He can afford to. After all, he remains one of the top earning alums of “Idol,” pulling in an estimated $1.5 million a year…

Maybe he’s put on weight, maybe he’s had a little surgical help…but as far as looking good is concerned, we really like how Clay‘s “evolved”…

But if you’re really curious about just how much Clay Aiken – singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and author – has changed, make sure you’re tuned in to NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” on February 12, and see if you can spot just how much of his face has shifted in which direction.

Who knows, it may very well be all everybody’ll be talking about for the rest of  the Season…

Photos By PR Photos / Via Clay Aiken‘s Twitter

more Clay and Adam photos after the hop…

Anyway, one of his ‘Claymates’ asked on his blog: “What did you think about the show?” and Clay (who is normally unfailingly polite had this to say):

I couldn’t be happier about the way “AI” ended this year. I only turn the show on once a season… This year, I happened to turn it during the minute that Adam Lambert was singing ‘Ring of Fire’ and, at that moment, thought my ears would bleed. Contrived, awful, and slightly frightening!”

more photos after the hop…

According to UsWeekly the challenge that week will be “acting” (whatever the hell that means on “America’s Next Top Model”). Singer Ciara will also appear on that episode. The 12th season of ANTM starts on February 25th. Honestly, can’t believe there have been 12 season—are any of the models even successful now? Is anyone getting career success of that show other than Ty Ty?

more photos after the jump…

Simon says: “Wow, that’s a shock. It’s like being told Santa Clause isn’t real – unbelievable.”

Cowell then softened and encouraged Aiken with “Good for him. If he said it, it’s the right thing for him. Good for him.” As for how Aiken’s fans will react, Cowell opined, “I don’t think anyone cares. Let’s face it. It’s 2008. You know, who cares?” Did Aiken really ask Cowell to be the godfather of Parker? “No,” Simon dishes, “I don’t know him well enough, and I think I’d be the last person on Earth he’d call.”

Come on! He’s gay so what’s the big deal! So are Lindsay Lohan and every other person around you. Okay perhaps not every other person but seriously isn’t it obvious that he’s gay? Is not like Simon Cowell is gay, that would be quite shocking.  

The nice looking lady photographed with Simon is Kara DioGuardi, the new American Idol judge.

photos: PR Photos

more photos after the swing of the closet door…

On the clayboard:

“This is a gut wrenching day for The ClayNation. Somebody wake me up, I hope its a dream.”

“Please tell me I’m not the only one who is shocked beyond belief! I feel numb I’m so upset. This can’t be real!! How can you guys say this won’t change anything? This changes EVERYTHING. I don’t even know what to think right now.”

“Okay, i’m going to come right off and say that when I saw it, I did cry. and I probably will if and when it is confirmed. Which will be tomorrow morning hopefully. I’ll probably be late for my first class, because i’ll be surfing the internet in the library. I knew in my heart for awhile that he was-…but my head was having nothing to do with it. I knew it might come eventually, but again my brain denyed it.”

I can wrap my head around the most abstract of notions, but even I can’t fathom how Clay Aiken’s coming out party was a shock. The man had a turkey baster baby for Godsakes! Do readers of the clayboard think heterosexual men (who never seem to date women) have test tube babies just for squirts and giggles? This explains so much of what is wrong with this world.

Photos: PR Photos, ClayAiken.com

Aiken has become a very successful artist. 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.”

Click here to view photos and get the latest entertainment news on all your favorite celebrities

photo: PR Photos

more juice after the jump…

Aiken will appear on the coming issue of People magazine with his newborn son, Parker Foster Aiken as reports by Reuters. 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.”

Aiken’s friend, music producer Jaymes Foster, gave birth to the baby fathered by Aiken just last month.

For years, Aiken has dodged questions about whether he is homosexual. He has said that his sexuality was nobody’s business but his own. I guess now that Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan are out of the closet, everyone else would, you think? Who’s next John Travolta? Just kidding…

For the complete story, visit people.com at 7 a.m. (EDT Wednesday) (1100 GMT) morning.

photo: People, Dateline Hollywood