Today’s Blog is dedicated to my beautiful sister, Lois.
September 12, 1939 – February 7, 2012
Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard To Drop Albums In March
By Norman Byrd on 2012-02-07
(Check out the bolded part!)
Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken finished first and second on “American Idol” in Season 2. They’ve toured together and remained friends over the years. Next month, they will enter the next chapter of their music career together when their new albums are released just a couple weeks apart.Buddies Ruben Studdard, winner of Season 2 on “American Idol,” and Clay Aiken, the runner-up have announced they’re releasing new albums. Like many of the events in their careers, the two will see them released somewhat contemporaneously — with two weeks separation in March.
Ruben Studdard finished in first place on “American Idol” in 2003, his win hotly contested on the Internet by fans of the runner-up, Clay Aiken. But the two guys, who had developed a close friendship, didn’t let their placement in the final official voting interfere with their careers. In fact, Aiken would release his first album, Measure of a Man, two months ahead of Studdard’s debut, Soulful, and go on to sell more copies (nearly a million more), one of the few times either events has occurred in “Idol” history.
Both guys released their sophomore sets in November 2004, with Aiken again preceding. The albums launched just nine days apart. Aiken’s Merry Christmas With Love would become the biggest selling Christmas album of any “Idol” alumnus in the show’s history. Studdard’s I Need An Angel would be certified gold.
Third albums would come from both in 2006, just a month apart. Aiken’s A Thousand Different Ways would go on to sell nearly 600,000 copies. Studdard’s The Return would sell half as well.
The two united to tour together in 2010 for the “Timeless Tour,” co-headlining.
Overall, Clay Aiken’s sales (U. S.) have nearly doubled Ruben Studdard’s. He’s released five sets of songs while Studdard has released four. Both have seen each successive album sell less than the first. Both have changed recording labels since their first signing.
On March 13, Studdard will release Letters From Birmingham.
“I think it will be my most personal album,” the big guy told Huffington Post in January. “Because the first album I was just getting songs from everybody because, of course, I was on tour with “American Idol” and I really didn’t have the opportunity to be as involved as I wanted to be in the album. And with this album I was able to pour my heart out into the songs. And also I’m 33 years old. I’m not the same cat that I was when I first came out. So I feel a lot different about stuff. There are a lot of sexy songs on there; it’s just a real R&B album from top to bottom.”
Clay Aiken’s Steadfast will hit stores on March 27.
According to the “Clay Aiken News Network,” the Season 2 runner-up’s latest will combine some songs from his 2010 release Tried and True with some new material. It will be released in the middle of Aiken’s latest television gig, starring with Arsenio Hall and Donald Trump on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” which begins the second week of February.
Both Studdard and Aiken have new singles in rotation as well. Studdard released “June 28 (I’m Single)” on Jan. 26. Aiken dropped “Bring Back My Love” on December 21.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your dear sister, Musicfan. Love and prayers to you and your
family. <3
It is so nice to see all of this information about Clay and Ruben – and also that they have stayed
close friends for all of this time and I am sure for a long time to come!!!
Hugs to you musicfan…
Wonderful information about Clay and Ruben. Thank you! Great read! Can't wait for Celebrity Apprentice!
Musicfan, So sorry to hear of the passing of your sister. Thoughts and prayers going your way to you and your family at this difficult time.
Thank you as well for your blog about Clay and Ruben. It's so refreshing to see such friendships flourish through this cut-throat music business. I think they both do the best that they can. We know Ruben's wish was always to be in show business, singing. Clay just wanted to sing for a hobby. His first love of course is teaching…but it sure has worked out well for him…AND US… Clay's voice touches us, like no other…and I thank God that he is in our lives.
I’m so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful story with Clay and Ruben. What a great friendship! 🙂
My condolences on the loss of your sister. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
I saw this this morning in my google alerts and eeed when I saw CANN mentioned. How exciting.
On a sadder note, my condolences on the passing of your sister, my heart are prayers are with you.
A sister's loss is hard to suffer…I'm so sorry.
So sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with you.
music fan my condolcences to you at the loss of your sister thanks for shareing verry wonderful imformation about clay and rubin thank youverry much what a amazing friendship
Musicfan – You have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your sister. It is such a sad occurrence, and hopefully it won't be too difficult a time for you.
Thanks for the article about Clay's and Ruben's careers so far. Nice that someone thought to write about their musical journey. But hey – we always knew Clay was and is one of the best.
musicfan, I posted here this morning, and now it's not here! I am so sorry to hear about your sister. May she be at peace, at last.
Wonderful articles about Clay and Ruben.
musicfan, I am so sorry to read about the passing of your sister.
I love this site and I think you should take it as a compliment when this site is quoted.
You do your research and every word you print is the truth.
Keep up the good work!
So sorry about your sister Lois.
~Ruth
CANN is a very professional site and no wonder it is used as a source for other places. Thank you for the many hours you put into this site to make it so accurate and fun.
Peace be with you today as you remember all the wonderful things about your sister!
Martha, my sincere condolences on the loss of your sister.
Very enjoyable blog. Thank you.
So sorry for the loss of your sister musicfan, I'm so sorry.
Great articles about Clay and Ruben.
Musicfan, My prayers are with you and your family. It's not surprising that CANN would be used as a reliable news source because it is just that. Keep up the fantastic job you are doing every day to support Clay in a positive way.
I'm so sorry to read of your sister's passing. Hugs and good thoughts to you. I always enjoy your blogs but I'm a little late reading this one. I love that Clay and Ruben are still good friends. It's real and superceeds any fan wars.