'American Idol' Alum Clay Aiken Explained Why He's 'Perfectly Fine' Being Single At 46, And It's A Very Relatable Take
Christopher Polk / FilmMagicI'm sure you know Clay Aiken from "American Idol."Steve Granitz / WireImageIn 2003, Clay finished second place on the second season of the singing competition series and went multi-platinum with his debut album "Measure of a Man."Paras Griffin / Getty ImagesAside from being among the most successful Idol alums in the ranks with winners like Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, and Kelly Clarkson — Clay's early career was sometimes overshadowed by speculation over his sexuality and personal life.Advertisement Scott Gries / Getty ImagesIf you remember, in a September 2008 cover story of "People," Clay came out as gay.Al Pereira / WireImageSpeaking again with the publication, he said it was a decision that "lost maybe 50 percent of the fanbase" but notes we're living in a "very different time" now.youtu.beBut, while the 46-year-old father is out and proud, he's still 100% single, and his outlook is refreshingly honest.Clay shares a teenage son, Parker, with his best friend, music producer Jaymes Foster.It was the birth of his son that inspired him to come out.
"It was the first decision I made as a father," Clay (who was 29 at the time) told "People." "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things.I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that."Advertisement Victoria Sirakova / Getty ImagesIn a new conversation with "People," Clay explained why he refuses to change his "ways" for any potential suitors.
"I just turned 46, and I have discovered I'm too old to change my ways for anybody," he said.Michael Simon / Getty Images"Unless I can find somebody who's happy to sit on the other end of the couch and not talk for hours at a time, then I'm perfectly fine not having to deal with that," he added.Hollywood To You / GC ImagesClay is not trying to change for anybody at this stage, and it's a fair take."You shouldn't have to change your ways, but we do.
When we're younger, we end up thinking we should...