AIKEN NEWS NETWORK, DECEMBER 30

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GOOD MORNING...

Looks like Christmas came early for Clay Aiken. After making his Broadway debut in Spamalot nearly a year ago, the pop star became the recipient of one of the New York theater world’s most beloved honors: a caricature at Sardi’s. Aiken was joined at the ceremony on December 23 by many of Spamalot co-stars as he autographed and snapped a few personal pics of his new honor. His work in Spamalot will be done on January 11, when the Tony Award-winning Monty Python hit ends its four-year run. That said, if you haven’t seen him in the show, we suggest you don’t dilly-dally. After all, anyone who has seen his skilled turn as Sir Robin is wondering what show the American Idol alum could take on next. So hats off to you, Clay Aiken! Broadway likes you, they really like you!

BROADWAY.COM

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HERE'S SMALL CLAY MENTION

Sing-Along Movies: It's considered rude to talk during a movie. It's even worse to use a cell phone. The adver-trailers make this PERFECTLY CLEAR.

So what kind of crazy upside-down world are we living in when the audience is invited to sing along with the professionals? We've all seen "American Idol." Most of us suck. Don't be fooled by your shower acoustics. Chances are, you're no Clay Aiken. You're probably not even a Taylor Hicks.
So to "Mamma Mia!" and "High School Musical 3," we say, "You were darling, dorky, adorable movies that we love like our own embarrassing relatives. But we don't want to have to pay to watch Betty Tonedeaf sing and shake her moneymaker, not when we can get that for free at the family reunion."
In 10 years, this crazy trend will seem like an impossible/insane dream. Trust us

GETCLAYAIKEN.COM

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ROLLING STONE HAS UPDATED THEIR BIOGRAPHY ON CLAY AIKEN.

In May of 2008 Aiken released On My Way Here, which debuted at Number Four on the Top 200 chart with the title track reaching Number 26 most-tellingly on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart. In August of 2008 Aiken became a father with producer Jaymes Foster. Also in 2008 Aiken performed on Broadway playing Sir Robin in the Monty Python spin-off Spamalot.

ROLLING STONE

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FROM MTV

Ashlee Simpson, Pete Wentz, Clay Aiken, Jamie Lynn Spears And Other Surprising New Parents of 2008Hollywood baby booms are nothing new, but we didn't expect some of these celebs to become moms and dads.

CLAY IS THE #1 ON THEIR LIST

MTV.COM

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CLAY IS THE PEOPLE YEARBOOK OF 2008!

PEOPLE-THE IDEAL IDOL

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ANOTHER SMALL CLAY MENTION...

11 BEST STARS RETURN TO BROADWAY!

Clay Aiken in Spamalot. The new father may have made headlines with his outing, but he still is making audiences laugh with his sense of humor. Surely there are other musicals that would fit him like a glove.

BROADWAY.TV

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THIS IS PROBABLY A REPEAT POSTING BUT I THINK IT'S NEEDED.

IN CLAY'S OWN WORDS...

For the final 12 days of 2008, UNICEF celebrity Ambassadors and supporters are posting daily blog entries about the impact UNICEF Inspired Gifts are having on children around the world. Since becoming a UNICEF Ambassador, Clay Aiken has visited children struggling to survive amid emergencies in Afghanistan, Uganda, Somalia and Indonesia.

Every child has a right to an education.

UNICEF.ORG

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Thousands love him. Others chastise. But no matter how you feel, American Idol and Clay Aiken sure have contributed greatly to Broadway this past year. With fellow American Idol colleagues in The Color Purple, GREASE, and Rock of Ages, Clay Aiken seemed to be the head-master of the “Broadway Idol” family in 2008.

BROADWAY.TV