As the runner-up to Fox TV’s second American Idol, Aiken wowed television audiences with his Southern charm, sweet demeanor, and bright, glorious voice. Aiken ended up wooing 21 million television viewers each week with his sensational singing. His rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” sewed him up a spot among America’s hearts. Although he finished second to Ruben Studdard, he landed a deal with RCA within weeks of the show’s finale. That same month, Aiken’s debut single, “This Is the Night,” made history by going number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. It sold more than 392,000 copies during its first week. In October 2003, Aiken issued his studio full-length, The Measure of a Man which sold 613,000 copies and went number one during its first week of release. His first holiday effort, Merry Christmas with Love, followed in November 2004. The album debuted at number one giving Merry Christmas with Love the biggest debut for a Christmas album in SoundScan history. Aiken released A Thousand Different Ways in September 2006. More recently, in 2012, Clay released Steadfast. Clay Aiken to sing sweet music around the globe.
