Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken was one of the two finalists in the 2003 American Idol season, and is undoubtedly the biggest start to emerge from that franchise. Aiken’s debut album, “Measure of a Man,” entered the Billboard Top 200 at #1 in October, selling 612,000 copies during its first week. Aiken’s single, “This is the Night / Bridge Over Troubled Water,” won the 2003 Billboard Music Award for Best Single. He was named the Fan’s Choice winner at the 2003 American Music Awards. Also in 2003, People Magazine named him one of its Top Entertainers of the Year. And in another testament to Aiken’s immense popularity, he earned TV Guide’s Fan’s Favorite Reality Star of 2003.