Clay Aiken is more than just an amazing voice. Clay, born Clayton Grissom on November 30, 1978, is a Christian, a champion of children's causes, loving son, and role model for what a young man should become.

Clay recognizes the role of God's will in his life. According to an article written by Daniel Fienberg, Clay states, "What comes out of this is what God wants to happen. I totally rely on him to put me where he wants to put me and he did that." Clay is a member of Leesville Baptist Church and has been singing at the church since he was a little boy.

More recently, Clay had been using his Special Education training to assist a young boy with Autism. Recently, Clay started the Bubel Aiken Foundation, a Foundation that provides opportunites for individuals with autism and other physical and mental disabilities to participate in programs that are typically only available to those without disabilities.

Clay's dedication to helping others, his dedication to 'living right' and following God's call in his life are just a few reasons why Clay has amassed such a strong fan base. It's also, of course, about THAT VOICE, a gift from God that he uses for His glory and honor.

Top Ten Most Memorable Experiences of 2003/2004 (according to me):
1. GRADUATING from the University of North Carolina, in December of 2003, with a degree in Special Education
2. The creation of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.
3. Debut album going double platinum in its first week and being called the "Best Pop Album of 2003" by Billboard Magazine.
4. First solo tour, summer of 2004
5. The Independent Tour with Kelly Clarkson (half the shows sold out...the tour made over 10 million dollars)
6. "Solitaire" debuting at #1 on Billboard's Top Singles Chart and remaining there for over 7 weeks.
7. American Music Award's Fan Choice Award
8. Billboard Music Award for Best Selling Single of 2003 ("This is the Night")
9. The cover of Rolling Stone Magazine
10. Auditioning for American Idol 2

Clay Says:

"I grew up a Southern Baptist with the hell fire and brimstone preacher, but I don't think that's the best way to minister to people. I think the best way to do it is through actions. Show God's love through your actions so that people follow you that way." (from "Beautiful girl Magazine," a new Christian mag). "It's hard to know who to trust in L.A. God is one person you can always trust in." (Beautiful Girl Magazine) "I love to listen to people in the car like Avalon and Stephen Curtis Chapman, but I don't necessarily think that a strictly Christian album ministers to the unchurched." "There are some songs that I already looked at and even told RCA that I want on my next album, that would be more religious." To the Record Companies "Don't pretend that the public are a bunch of idiots! Don't pretend that you know what they want and they don't know what they want. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life!" "It surprises me that I can make someone feel good just by saying hello. Who would not want to be able to make someone feel good that way?" To those who claim he's gay "People think I'm gay because I don't talk about my private life and I'm not out there sleeping with everybody. I think it's about time for someone to be out there who isn't gay, but doesn't sleep around. So if I have to carry the banner for all the nerds in the world, I'm fine with that." "I'm really not that special. Really, I'm not. It was just a T.V show. "It's not the money. It's not the fame. It's the influence." "I know that I've got big ears and a big forehead and that my hair sticks up, but I'm happy with myself. I'm not necessarily trying to win a beauty pageant here." "I'm religious. I think this is something God had planned for me."

Diane Bubel on Clay Aiken:

"He would take Mike out in the community and Mike would have a complete meltdown. Mike would punch the heck out of him Monday and Clay would come back Wednesday as if there was nothing wrong and that was just the way you work. He kept coming back. Who does that?" "He was so idealistic. It was always, 'Why not?' He'd ask if I ever thought of putting Mike in summer camp, and I'd laugh like he had to be kidding. He'd say, 'Why not?' I told him Mike would tear the place apart. He'd say that they just have to set it up so Mike could be successful. It was simple as that to Clay. The world doesn't work that way, but how nice for him to be so idealistic and say, 'Why not?' I think that's where the foundation came in for him?; let's make the 'why nots' possible. How wonderful that kids with disabilities have a pop star who wants to be a voice for them."

Write To Clay:
Clay Aiken Official Fan Club
P.O.Box 90217
Raleigh, NC 27675

For More Information:

Clay Aiken.com

The Bubel Aiken Foundation

Christians For Clay

Clay's Church: Leesville Baptist

Fantasia Barrino: Her mother is the co-pastor of their church, Mercy Ministry in NC. Born and raised in and around the church, she sung in the choir and according to her family, it was prophesized when she was a child that one day she would "go to all the nations." Her journey to "go to the nations" began when she overcame all the difficulties in her life and became the new American Idol in May of 2004. A Fantasia Barrino Fan Page.

George Huff: American Idol finalist, 2004. George refers to himself as an "evangelist" and here is what someone close to the family has said: "One day George started playing the piano at the Idol Mansion and singing praise & worship songs. Soon, one by one the other idols joined him and it became one huge worship session with George leading it! Also, Camille was so touched and overwhelmed that she started crying and couldn't stop. The stress really getting to her nerves, I guess. George prayed for her and encouraged her just as he does often for his family members and close friends." George is now pursuing Christian music and has been offered some record deals.

RJ Helton: RJ Helton was a finalist on the very first American Idol. After getting the boot, he signed with B-Rite Records and recently released his first CD called "Real Life." According to Family Christian Bookstores, his debut album, "demonstrates a command of urban, pop, and Latin vocal stylings only hinted at on American Idol , Helton moves effortlessly through the funky beats of "Why Don?t We Pray?" to the smooth licks of "My Devotion" and the soulful "All We Need To Know." Abused as a young child, Helton told Christianity.net that, "My friend really coached me through the process of forgiveness. He helped me find verses and pray about it and overcome that anger. And I forgave (the perpetrator) at that time. That was very, very difficult, but it really does help in the healing process when you have someone to talk to, whether it's a counselor or a close friend. It definitely was a vital part of my healing." Read the Christianity.net article, Here.

Guy Sebastian: He won the title of "Australian Idol" in 2003. According to the article, No False Idol, "Angels may have brought Australian Idol's Guy Sebastian to the stage of the Sydney Opera House, but he has some very earthly support from an Assemblies of God church in the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide. This is no regular church; every Sunday so many worshippers stream into the Paradise Community Church - Paradise being the unusually apt name of the suburb - that security guards direct the traffic. And it has become such a force that one of its leaders, Pastor Andrew Evans, was elected to the South Australian Parliament at the last election, representing the conservative Family First party." Guy was recently in the states, promoting his album which was released here on May 28th. Check out This Guy Sebastian Fan Site and, Guy's Official Website.

Heinz Winckler: Heinz is a 24 year old former law school student who won the first South African Idol in 2003. He chaired the Christian Society at school, who admires Steven Curtis Chapman, and who says he prays before going to sleep. The last book he read was the inspirational, "Secrets of the Vine" by Bruce Wilkinson. According to This South African CD Sales Website, "Winckler is something of an enigma: "ma se klong" and "Hunky Heinz", a pop idol and a Christian rocker, a manufactured star and a talented singer-songwriter, a serious law student and the boy with the dazzling smile." On November 28th, 2003, there was a Heinz Winckler outreach event presented by Bredell Wesleyan Church called, "Eternity Calling." Heinz Winckler Official Website.

Ben Lummis: According to The Challenge Weekly Christian Newspaper, recent New Zealand Idol winner, Ben Lummis, "is a born-again Christian who praises God for getting him to the top. While the TVNZ, NZ Idol judges were looking for the X-factor from the 18,347 contenders, Ben says his X-factor was Jesus. In his acceptance speech, to an estimated audience of 1.5 million viewers, he thanked New Zealand for all their support and said, "I want to give praise and glory to God above." According to Ben himself, "The Bible teaches us that we should be light and salt in the earth today so I really watched the way I was off stage, the things that I did, the way I spoke and conducted myself. I tried to be Christ-like." Ben Lummis Official Website