Clayton Holmes Grissom was born in Raleigh, North Carolina 30 November 1978 to his mother, Faye Aiken Parker and his late father, Vernon Grissom. When Clay was a teenager, he had a love for teaching and helping young children and later on studied to became a school teacher. When he was about 23 years old, a longtime friend persuaded him to audition for American Idol. When he was 25 years old he released his debut album, "Measure of a Man." (singles from his debut album include: "Invisible," "This Is The Night" and "The Way") His debut album sold over 600,000 copies in the USA in its first week of release. It has sold almost 2.5 million in the US as of 4/16/04.


Changed his last name, Grissom, to his mother's maiden name, Aiken. Worked for the YMCA in Raleigh, North Carolina Recorded two CDs entitled "Redefined" and "Look What Love Has Done" prior to American Idol. These CDs are no longer available. In the first week of the release of his single, it sold over 393,000 copies, the most since Elton John's "Candle in the Wind." Founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to include children with developmental disabilities in activities with typical children. Named the foundation for Mike Bubel, a boy with autism that he worked with in North Carolina. Mike's mother Diane persuaded him to audition for American Idol. Shared a house in L.A with former American Idol contestant Kimberley Locke His song, "The Way," was co-written by Enrique Iglesias. Was the one and only contestant on the 2nd season of American Idol that was never voted in the bottom two or three. His first album went triple platinum. Was born with a collapsed lung. First book, titled Learning to Sing, came out on November 19th, 2004. Had three major tours in the year 2004 (The Independent Tour in Spring, the Clay Aiken Solo Tour 2004 in Summer, and the Joyful Noise Tour in Winter) Has sold more albums and had more #1s then any other American Idol contestant behind Kelly Clarkson He is allergic to many kinds of foods, including all tree nuts. He is not allergic to peanuts, which grow on a vine. His first son Parker Foster Aiken weighed in at 6 lbs, 2 oz.