Clay Aiken's Journey: Coming Out, Challenges & Comeback

Clay Aiken came out as gay in 2008. The "American Idol" star shared his truth on People magazine’s cover.

Fatherhood inspired Aiken's decision. He vowed to raise his son Parker with honesty and authenticity.

[{"selector":"#anim-9cff7aec-00ad-4dd5-b6b2-8be1aeb34c58 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36e690aa-264a-4e36-a030-aec11b7c48cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8d54428-af4e-4c36-b380-cf1d8df706d7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.00269%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Coming out had consequences for his career. Ticket sales for his Broadway show "Spamalot" dropped after his announcement.

[{"selector":"#anim-a6ed8403-9fd1-4034-b573-722c148a0e60 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-702611c8-397f-4efe-aa44-7f34e92c92ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50943759-17fa-4f49-8e64-184891805882","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 143.02422%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

He lost nearly half his fans. Aiken recalls losing 50% of his fan base after coming out.

[{"selector":"#anim-3ea45d51-a61d-4012-9cc5-72088b4aac8b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af83f2f5-c73b-4267-97e0-68af32c01a35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-122c7fff-37b6-4d56-b033-1fcf3e44d3d0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.78320%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The 2008 reaction was very different. Public perception back then impacted his popularity negatively.

[{"selector":"#anim-2150ba7d-45fe-49c3-bf7b-bf7d21a17ea8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8040cb16-5d6c-4871-83a1-5e53a808d8be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a89578b-599a-427d-b642-a088c965056c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.00269%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Society has changed since then. Aiken is amazed at how coming out now often boosts celebrities' careers.

[{"selector":"#anim-eeeb5a7d-81b6-4b46-b55b-ef27ffd4d58f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18a0a410-c831-4a3a-900e-aeee6cecc210","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00570bec-58c2-4f0e-b7d9-0d4cb2f87819","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.34413%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

No regrets, only pride in progress. Despite setbacks, Aiken is grateful for the societal progress since 2008.

[{"selector":"#anim-ee939a91-96a7-40e1-a569-d0c8431ccd46 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce74c762-abdc-4223-ab98-832727918b26","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-797625de-e0ea-4336-a9a2-576e630eeaa1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.34413%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Clay Aiken’s early career highlights. The "American Idol" runner-up had a record-breaking Billboard debut single.

[{"selector":"#anim-724e11a9-b918-441f-9b2a-2b4f4a9bcdb5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fa7431b-ed90-4332-a7cb-e6aceb582278","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79f233e4-70bb-43ee-9f4a-f9d165f173c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 216.12467%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Aiken returned to music in 2023. He released a holiday album, Christmas Bells Are Ringing, after a decade.

[{"selector":"#anim-b3bd9ce5-01ce-4a3c-af24-c2eb480ccf95 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-748cc01f-e053-41a7-bf71-9a34328d0110","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d9c2fd1-1529-4c70-9674-c4205ae387fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.00269%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Clay's son Parker looks just like him. Aiken’s 15-year-old son made his TV debut recently, leaving fans stunned.

[{"selector":"#anim-2dc0527b-d737-40b4-aa96-0dfc95746d77 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6867ee9-6fae-45f0-9ad2-7a00d31362a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c5d3cb6-ae5e-4c3b-815f-dd4987fe891e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.00269%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Sydney Sweeney Fires Back at Body Shamers with Gym Videos

[{"selector":"#anim-45f9200c-8be4-4ce9-ad34-989e6032448b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more