Clay Aiken Returns to Music: ‘American Idol’ Star on Why the Reality Singing Series Got Too Soft, Shawn Mendes and His Hope for Donald Trump
variety.comRebecca Rubin Senior Film and Media Reporter Halloween is over, so it’s officially time to break out the eggnog and dust off those Christmas CDs.
At least that’s the rule for Clay Aiken, the “American Idol” runner-up whose new album “Christmas Bells Are Ringing” drops on Nov.
22. “Once the jack-o’-lanterns are gone, it’s time to go,” the North Carolina native says in via Zoom, in his signature Southern drawl.
The album marks Aiken’s first since 2004’s chart-topper “Merry Christmas With Love.” In between, the 45-year-old competed on “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2012, ran (and lost) twice for Congress and toured with “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard. “I’ve spent the last 10 years in the political world, and I’m cured of that,” Aiken says. “I wanted to get back to doing what I loved.” Are you prepared to talk about Christmas for two months? I love Christmas, but it does start earlier and earlier.
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