Clay Aiken (Clayton Holmes Grissom) was born on November 30, 1978 is an American pop singer who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003.

Based on album sales surpassed only by Idol winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, Aiken has become the most successful male and the most successful second-place finisher in that show's history.

In the four years following his American Idol appearance Aiken has launched seven tours, authored a NY Times best-selling book Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life with Allison Glock, and was the executive producer for a 2004 televised Christmas special, A Clay Aiken Christmas.

He has been a frequent talk show guest, particularly on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and has participated in comedy skits on Kimmel and Saturday Night Live.

Aiken created the Bubel/Aiken Foundation in 2003, accepted a UNICEF ambassadorship in 2005, and in 2007 was appointed by George W. Bush to a committee that acts in an advisory capacity to the President and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on matters relating to programs and services for persons with intellectual disabilities.