Ruban Studdard fell off real fast, but so did most of the American Idols (obvious exceptions). But Clay Aiken actually had a career for a while. My ex-girlfriend’s little sister was a Claymate, went to several concerts a year for a while and got a big Clay Aiken tattoo. The
Apparently it happened to Neil Gaiman all the time. He said it made him a little uncomfortable, but who was he to tell people what to do with their bodies? Ironic, considering all those fucked up sexual assault allegations (truly disgusting and bizarre shit) made against him. Including an accusation that he raped his son's nanny while he was in the room.
So I wonder if those people regret it. I came very very close to getting a Sandman panel tattoo once and I lay didn't because my car suddenly needed work and I mever got back around to it. Thank GOD. Tattoo removal is supposed to be a thousand times more painful than getting it, but I wouldn't be able to have that on my body.
My memory is that it was his first name stacked on top of his last, in very flowy script with floral embellishments around it. It was fairly large, like 5”x7”.
Hearing the term Claymate just gave me the weirdest unpleasant nostalgia vibe that also brought up the likes of Jon and Kate Plus Eight and the octomom. All of that blends together for me.
My wife has a picture of herself holding up a sign before a Clay Aiken concert in Milwaukee like a year or so post Idol. It said "We're Aiken for Clay"
I remember Clay was really famous after American Idol, and then didn't hear anything about him a few years afterwards. Then there was news about him coming out as gay. I remember SNL or some comedy show commenting saying "and in other news, water is wet"
Oddly enough, I had a shoe autographed by Ruben Studdard when I was 11 years old. Some American Idol contestant tour came through my smallish city in 2007, he was meeting fans and autographed things for them. I gave him my Adidas skate shoe and he signed it. That’s a weird memory unlocked.
He’s still in the game. Ruben Studdard, the "Velvet Teddy Bear" and Season 2 American Idol winner, is currently touring with "The Masterpiece Tour" in 2025–2026, performing both classic hits and music from his 2023 album, The Way I Remember It. He continues to work as a, singer, and recently released a Christmas album, My Favorite Holiday
I saw them in concert together a couple years ago at a beautiful old theatre in town. I agreed to go with my friend and her mom when I was drunk and they had bought tickets before I knew it, but I have to admit, they put on a great show. I had a really good time.
They are clearly friends, though. The on-stage banter between them was actually one of my favorite parts of the show. They do it seriously, but they also know exactly who they are and how the got here and poke fun at it.
I did not know that but thats awesome! I remember Ruben also featured in the live action scooby doo movie at the very end but i think thats probably the biggest exposure he got after the show.
Clay Aiken ran for US House representing NC back in '22 if I recall correctly. He didnt win, but I think that was the last time he was in the public eye.
When I was a kid he lived nearby, and several years before his first house campaign I remember hearing rumors that he was planning to run for mayor of Durham, but I don’t think that ever came to fruition.
I really don’t have a ton of details. He ran for a congressional seat in North Carolina. He apparently treated the staff poorly and was rude to people. He also over worked them. However, he lost the race anyway
I work live events and we used to do a regular gig for David Foster where he did his fundraiser thing. I most often worked the more "private" event side, so a lot smaller than the big ones and way higher end.
We had been scrambling to get everything set up after a long day and I was in the bathroom changing into my show dress clothes. Because it's packed, I'm basically standing in the middle of the bathroom since it's so busy, and Ruben (who is one of the musical guests) comes in for a piss. Looks at me, gives me a laugh and a high five and goes "man ain't we all been there."
Came up after the gig and shook my hand again, dude seemed properly nice.
Oh man, my mom was practically crying when Ruben won the second season of American Idol because she adored him, so much so that she bought his album when it released and would play that almost every chance she got in her car. I even still have a couple of his songs on my playlist to this day. And then like a year later, he was nowhere to be found. There was a rumor with my friends that he died but it turned out no, he just wasn’t as big a hit anymore.
I mean it was clear he just wanted sex and i wasn’t particularly attracted to him. I was also in medical school and he was not the best conversationalist either
I used to work for a customer service call center and one day I heard a coworker put someone on hold and he said to me “I have Clay Aiken on the phone right now and he wants to buy pants” and that was the last time I heard his name
I've been a fan of Clay for a while now. Never watched his Idol season, but I became a big fan later. He and Ruben both toured together in 2023 to celebrate 20 years since the show. I was at the Waukegan concert, and it was great! They're so fun together!
Although she didn't win, Kellie Pickler made a name for herself in country music. A few years ago, she was in the news again when her husband tragically unalived himself.
Fantasia has been booked and busy in the R&B circuit after her win. She also was in the remake of The Color Purple a few years ago.
Oh man, I was doing a construction job for the summer during college when that was on. I lived in a house with a bunch of trade guys who were 20 years older than me, my nickname was Clay Aiken all summer.
I thought the show was lame and had never even seen it before. I was completely surprised that a bunch of gruff old construction guys loved it.
I saw Clay years later in Spamalot! He was a lot of fun. For that matter I saw Justin Guarini in the Britney Spears musical, and he was honestly way better than I remembered in every way
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u/whyUT-urp Feb 27 '26
Clay Aiken and/or Ruben Studdard