• Clay Aiken to guest-star on NBC's 'Ed' in January

  December 18, 2003
  NBC has announced that double platinum recording artist and American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken will make his acting debut as a singing star when he "pops" up as himself on an episode of NBC's Ed that is scheduled for broadcast in late January.

• Ruben Studdard's 'Soulful' debuts at #1 in U.S. with sales of 416,500 units

  December 17, 2003
  American Idol 2 winner Ruben Studdard finally has his own #1 CD to match runner-up Clay Aiken and Idol 1 winner Kelly Clarkson.

• FOX moves 'American Idol 3' premiere to January 19

  December 11, 2003
  FOX has announced a change to its previously announced upcoming January American Idol 3 premiere, with the first two-hour episode of the program's originally planned two-night/three-hour premiere now having been broken into two one-hour consecutive night broadcasts due to concerns regarding a potential presidential address conflict.

• Clay Aiken's final college course led to launch of Bubel/Aiken Foundation

  December 10, 2003
  Sometimes the best stories take place behind the scenes. Thanks to the controversy about Clay Aiken's graduation this month, we just learned one of them.

• Original 'Idol' runner-up Justin Guarini dropped by RCA Records

  December 3, 2003
  According to numerous media reports, American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini has been dropped from RCA Records after disappointing sales of his debut album. In comparison to the hit debut albums of fellow Idol alumni Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, which have each sold well over one million copies to date, Guarini's self-titled "Justin Guarini" album has sold only 134,000 domestic copies since its June release.

• Report: FOX looking to add another Brit as fourth 'American Idol' judge

  November 23, 2003
  Is FOX once again looking to add a fourth American Idol judge? According to a recent report in The Sun newspaper, Pete Waterman, who along with Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman, and Neil Fox function as the four-person judging panel for the UK's Pop Idol, is "in talks" with FOX to join Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson as a judge for this January's third edition of American Idol.

• Clay Aiken CD certified double platinum, while Clay prepares for graduation day

  November 21, 2003
  Not many graduating collegians can claim to have two platinum records. But then again, not many graduating collegians are Clay AIken.

• Third season of 'American Idol to premiere January 20 and 21

  November 17, 2003
  FOX has announced that its hit American Idol series will make its highly anticipated third-season debut on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21. The series’ special two-part premiere will kick off with a two-hour episode from 8-10 PM ET/PT on Tuesday followed by a special one-hour episode on Wednesday from 8-9 PM ET/PT on FOX.

• Clay Aiken wins American Music Awards "Fan's Choice" award

  November 17, 2003
  Clay Aiken might have lost last spring's American Idol 2 viewer voting contest to Ruben Studdard, but his devoted fans apparently made sure that Clay wouldn't fall just short a second time. Powered by the efforts of his "clay maniacs," Aiken took home the American Music Awards Fan's Choice award on Sunday night, beating out 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, and Beyonce among others. The award is the only AMA award where the winner is determined by online fan voting.

• 'American Idol 2' semifinalist Jaered Andrews acquitted in bar fight death

  November 15, 2003
  Looks like Jaered told the truth.

MORE AMERICAN IDOL NEWS