Clay Aiken
Photo: Bruce Glikas/ FilmMagic

Even before sharp-tongued Simon Cowell officially bid "American Idol" goodbye after nine seasons of judging the reality competition, everyone from Perez Hilton to Howard Stern began eying his now-vacant seat. But one "Idol" alum has a suggestion about who should take the open spot on the panel. Season-two runner-up Clay Aiken says the show should keep it in the family when selecting Cowell's replacement, bringing in an ex-contestant to sit on the other side of the judges' table.

"I've always thought it would be a great addition to the panel to have someone who's a former contestant and knows what it's like to be up on that stage and be critiqued," Aiken told Billboard.com.

While Aiken's down with the idea of a former "Idol" contender offering insight, he's not necessarily gunning for the gig. "Well, I'm so far removed from it at this point that I don't know if I remember what it's like, but who knows."

Aiken didn't shut down the idea of returning to the amateur talent juggernaut that launched his career, but he said his judging style would differ from Cowell's abrasive approach.

"I would not put myself out there to be as caustic as he is, but if they want to call me, bring it on," Aiken said. "We can talk."

Aiken, however, is not as far removed from all things "American Idol" as he says. For his upcoming tour, the singer is teaming up with Ruben Studdard, the "Velvet Teddy Bear" who bested the crooner in the show's second season.

"We've been talking for years about trying to do something together and had never really found the time to do it," Aiken said. The singer said the former competitors will combine their distinct musical styles on the summer tour.

"It's kind of a musical revue of sorts — some of the biggest hits and greatest songs, from our point of view — and songs that have influenced us from over the past five decades," Aiken revealed. "We're really good friends and have a great time when we're together, so I think it's going to be a lot of fun to do a tour like this, for us and for the audiences, too."

Aiken released his fifth studio album, Tried & True, a collection of standards, on June 1.

Do you think Clay Aiken would make a good "American Idol" judge? Let us know in the comments!

• Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken
Photo: Bruce Glikas/ FilmMagic

You would think that Clay Aiken has nothing but kind things to say about "American Idol" — the show that launched his career — or Adam Lambert, the season-eight runner-up who many in the media compared him to.

Well, apparently that's not the case.

In a lengthy blog post on his official site — which has since been taken down but can be viewed on Gawker.com — Aiken ripped into the show and Lambert, accusing the former of having lost its way and showing "blatant favoritism ... towards one contestant," and the later of being, well, terrible and sort of scary.

"I only turn the show on once a season, and only to see what the set looks like each year. This year, I happened to turn it during the minute Adam Lambert was singing 'Ring of Fire,' " Aiken wrote. "And, at that moment, I thought my ears would bleed. Contrived, awful and slightly frightening. I wasn't really a fan and found myself surprised whenever folks told me they liked him."

Aiken then turned his ire on "Idol" itself, writing that, in the early seasons, the show was about finding "real people who happened to sing/ entertain well," but it has since lost its way, turning into just another character-driven reality slog where judges openly show favoritism.

"Somewhere along the way, 'AI' stopped being about real people," Aiken wrote. "This year, there was an obvious bias. Not even having watched the show, I can tell you that I was WELL aware of the bias from the judges as to who should win. In my opinion, that is awfully unattractive. I don't think I am alone."

Aiken added that he "couldn't be happier" about Kris Allen defeating Lambert in the "Idol" finale, because it showed that he's not the only one who's grown tired of the show's bias and favoritism.

"I think many voters got sick of being 'told who to vote for.' I think many were turned off by the blatant favoritism shown towards one contestant. On that last night, they used their votes against a contestant that they were tired of hearing about, and for the contestant who had been written off," he wrote. "I think they voted AGAINST an 'American Idol' that has, for four years now, been more about the slick productions and polished contestants than it has been about finding the raw talent that it did in its first three seasons."

He closed the post by calling Allen's victory a "resounding and clarion call" and hoped that the "Idol" producers were listening, because the voters are telling them "Enough with the pretention. More Rubens, more Clays, more Fantasias and Tamyras and Kellys please."

And though he obviously feels strongly about the direction "Idol" is heading, Aiken has since removed the blog post from his site. At press time, a spokesperson for Aiken had not responded to MTV News's requests for comment on the post.

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• Clay Aiken

Kelly Clarkson performs on season one of "American Idol"
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

On Wednesday night, "American Idol" voters crowned Kris Allen the champion of season eight. And now that he's bested Adam Lambert and been named the king of the "Idol" heap, we're asking the question: "Where does he rate among the all-time 'Idol' greats?"

Well, he doesn't. At least not in our top 10, at least.

After combing through the previous eight "American Idol" seasons, and taking into consideration stuff like performances, compelling backstories and post-show careers, we've created the following list, our "Greatest 'Idol' Contestants Of All Time." Allen didn't make the cut, but you might be surprised by who did.

	10 Greatest "Idol" Contestants Of All-Time

10. Clay Aiken
He started out as the nerdy kid with the wire specs, got cut in the round of 32, came back as a wild card, got a makeover, became an unlikely heartthrob and rode a powerful set of pipes — and the whole "geek to chic" thing — all the way to the finals of season two, where he lost a nail-biter to Ruben Studdard. But he didn't let that stop him: Post-"Idol," he's sold a ton of albums (his debut, Measure of a Man, bowed at #1, selling a staggering 613,000 copies in its first week), starred in Broadway plays, became a pop-culture touchstone, proved that he has a rather deft touch for comedy and, oh, came out of the closet. Not too shabby.

9. LaToya London
A total and complete powerhouse of a performer, London blew the socks off everybody for something like 10 consecutive weeks, earning high praise and standing ovations for her takes on "All by Myself," "Ain't Nobody" and "Somewhere." But she won't be remembered just for her voice: Drama seemed to follow her at every turn. When she and fellow divas Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia Barrino ended up in the bottom three, it provoked calls of racism (from Elton John, of all people) and brought into question the validity of the entire "Idol" voting system. London survived, but was eventually sent packing a few weeks later. Her ouster and tearful farewell performance of "Don't Rain on My Parade" remain two of the most memorable "Idol" moments.

8. Elliott Yamin
People forget just how great Yamin was on the fifth season of "Idol," earning high praise from judges and mentors alike. Simon Cowell called him "potentially the best male vocalist" in the show's history, and his stirring take on Leon Russell's "A Song for You" remains one of the finest "Idol" performances ever. Yamin ended up finishing third, behind Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks (seriously), and while his post-"Idol" career hasn't been huge, his self-titled 2005 debut bowed at #3 and has since gone gold. Couple that with a compelling backstory (his hearing loss, his late mother's battle with an undisclosed illness) and Yamin might be the most underrated Idol in history.

7. David Cook
With a voice tailor-made for modern-rock radio, an innate sense of humor and a penchant for taking risks with his arrangements, Cook was the everydude who became king during the seventh season of "Idol." Having spent his formative years kicking around in various Midwestern rock outfits (Axium, the Midwest Kings), Cook put his training to good use, turning tunes like Lionel Richie's "Hello" into angsty stompers. He bested runner-up David Archuleta by some 12 million votes, and post-"Idol," his debut has gone platinum and spawned a pair of hit singles ("Light On" and "Time of My Life").

6. Jennifer Hudson
Her exit from "Idol" was arguably the most shocking in show history, but she's more than moved on. Hudson already has a Grammy and an Oscar to her name, and her self-titled debut album bowed at #2, selling more than 200,000 copies. Her run during the third season of "Idol" started rocky — she made the top 12 as a wild card, then spent two of the next three weeks in the bottom three — but she turned it around with a big-time take on Elton John's "Circle of Life" and then kicked it into overdrive with a version of Whitney Houston's untouchable "I Have Nothing." And, in the spirit of Whitney, her scene-stealing version of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls" has since become an Everest several "Idol" contestants have attempted to scale, with disastrous results.

5. Adam Lambert
Seriously. With his style, flair for the dramatic and positively killer falsetto — not to mention the speculation about his personal life — Lambert breathed new life into "Idol" on the just-wrapped eighth season. His powerhouse takes on songs like "Mad World," "Black or White" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" earned him the highest of praise from the judges (his original performance of "Mad World" might be one of the best in "Idol" history), while a cover story in Entertainment Weekly and a spot on "The O'Reilly Factor" made him a lightning rod for public scrutiny and a symbol of the red/blue-state divide that's still prevalent in this country. Of course, he ended up losing in the finals to nice guy Kris Allen, but regardless of where he goes from here, in a lot of respects, Lambert's already won.

4. Chris Daughtry
The greatest rocker in "American Idol" history, and he didn't even win the competition. Daughtry's sandpapery voice, authenticity and blue-collar personality made him stand out from any of the so-called "rock guys" who came before him (see: Bice, Bo), and he's since become the benchmark against which "rock guys" who come after will be judged (see: Cook, David). His version of Fuel's "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" was so good, the guys in the band offered to make him their lead singer, and though he eventually finished fourth, his post-show career has been meteoric: His self-titled debut album went platinum in five weeks, becoming the fastest-selling rock debut in SoundScan history. It spent an astounding 116 weeks on the Billboard top 100, and has since been certified as quintuple-platinum.

3. Carrie Underwood
One of the strongest "Idol" contestants in history (she positively dominated the fourth season, never coming close to the bottom three) and the biggest star the show has ever produced. From her first audition, Simon Cowell predicted that not only would Underwood win the competition, but that she would "outsell all previous 'Idol' winners," and, uh, he was right on both counts. Underwood has become a massive country star, with her debut, Some Hearts, being certified septuple-platinum by the RIAA (it's the fastest-selling country debut in the SoundScan era), and the follow-up, Carnival Ride, has sold more than 2.8 million copies to date and has remained in the top 100 for 82 weeks (and counting).

2. Kelly Clarkson
She's the original Idol, and while her performances on the show were great (particularly the Motown stuff and her post-victory take on "A Moment Like This"), it's Clarkson's willingness to forge her own path post-"Idol" that lands her at #2. Her second album, Breakaway, featured the massive "Since U Been Gone" and showed her distancing herself from the show, and she's only gone further off the path since. My December was really dark and personal, and the just-released All I Ever Wanted has already spawned two hit singles and showcases her growing artistic side. In a lot of ways, Clarkson is everything you could ask for in a pop star, and then some.

1. Fantasia Barrino
There has never been a better singer and performer in "Idol" history than Barrino, whose takes on Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" and — most notably — "Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess" (which left her in tears) have become the stuff of "AI" legend. Simon Cowell called her the greatest contestant not just in "American Idol" history, but in the entire international history of the show as well, and we're not gonna disagree with him. Add to that the controversy surrounding her near-elimination, her personal struggles (which were so compelling that it spawned a best-selling autobiography and a highly rated Lifetime movie), and her post-show success (gold and platinum records, plus the role of Celie in the Broadway version of "The Color Purple," which drew raves), there's no one who comes close to matching Barrino. She's the total package. And the greatest "Idol" contestant of all time.

Are you an "American Idol" expert? Take our ultimate "Idol" quiz to find out! Plus, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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• Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken on "30 Rock"
Photo: NBC

Learning that Clay Aiken is the cousin of NBC's most cheerful employee, Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer), was almost as shocking as seeing the rest of the star-studded crowd Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) could coerce into participating in his "Kidney Now!" benefit concert on the season finale of "30 Rock."

In the episode, Aiken and a slew of famous faces, like Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello and Cyndi Lauper, joined in Jack's effort to find a kidney donor for Milton Greene (Alan Alda), the man who may or may not be his father. Aiken says it was an honor to be involved.

" '30 Rock' is not only the funniest show on TV now; it's also the smartest," Aiken told MTV News in a statement. "Things that you see or hear on that show start popping up in everyday life all of the time. I don't think any show since 'Seinfeld' has been able to do that."

Like "Seinfeld," these days Liz Lemon and her motley crew leave the "American Idol" alum in stitches every week. " 'Seinfeld' had 'yada, yada, yada' and 'master of your domain.' '30 Rock' has "That's a deal-breaker, ladies' and many more. I find myself saying 'What the what?' all of the time. They've really broken into the zeitgeist like no other show has."

Given the subtle reveal of Aiken's newfound "cousin," it sounds like the "Spamalot" star might have an opening to return for another stint.

Blige also loved the experience of guest-starring on the show. "I had so much fun!" she told MTV News. "Everyone was so nice and respectful of each other, and it felt like family. I couldn't stop laughing in-between takes. I was sad when I left; I wanted to come back the next day."

In case you missed it, the episode's "We Are the World"-style benefit show also included Adam Levine, Beastie Boys Mike D and Ad-Rock, Michael McDonald, Sara Bareilles, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Talib Kweli, Rhett Miller, Moby, Robert Randolph, Steve Earle and Rachael Yamagata.

And it turns out their efforts weren't just for laughs. In real life, proceeds from iTunes purchases of the song will help benefit the National Kidney Foundation.

• Mary J. Blige
• Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken
Photo: Bruce Glikas/ FilmMagic

According to reports, it looks like Clay Aiken is the latest "American Idol" alum to be dropped by his record label. The Faded Youth blog noticed that in recent Grammy press material sent out by RCA, Aiken had been left off the label's roster.

On top of that, the blog is reporting that Aiken-related press materials have been removed from RCA's Web site. Aiken's RCA artist page and message board have also apparently been deleted, and the URL now redirects to the his non-RCA-owned fan club Web site.

At press time, reps for Aiken had not responded to a request from MTV News for comment regarding the singer's status with the label; a rep for the label had no comment.

Other "American Idol" vets have had some bad luck with their labels in the past: Blake Lewis, Katharine McPhee and Ruben Studdard have all lost their record contracts in the past year and a half.

In January, Aiken ended his run as Sir Robin in "Monty Python's Spamalot" when the show closed its doors. He also surprised everyone late last year when he announced he was gay and became a father. "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things," the singer said at the time. "I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Clay Aiken

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

Celebrities had children on the brain in 2008. Baby bumps were everywhere, and Hollywood is starting to resemble a playpen.

There were plenty of stars who didn't shock us too much when we found out they were in the family way. Christina Aguilera and hubby Jordan Bratman had baby Max. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had twins they named after the kids on "Dragon Tales." Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale welcomed Zuma Nesta Rock. It wasn't even that surprising when Jessica Alba announced she was going to have a baby with her longtime beau, Cash Warren. And we didn't fall off our seats when Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcomed Sunday into the world. There are plenty of famous couples who are still perpetually rumored to be pregnant: Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, and Jen Aniston and John Mayer. (There were also some parents who went from famous to notorious this year.)

And then there were the celebs that made us stop dead in our tracks when we found out they'd be having a kid (or two). Here are the most surprising parents of 2008:

5. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
OK, they love kids, but you'd think that after four, they'd want to slow down a bit. But these two can't stop adding to their brood. To be honest, they are beautiful and rich, so it's sort of like why not? So, with that in mind, this year they went from four babies to six when in July, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, came into the world.

4. Nicole Richie and Benji Madden
It's always sort of surprising when two free-spirited, wild people get together and make a baby. This was the case when Nicole and Benji gave birth to little Harlow Winter in January. They've each been out there and sowed their wild oats, and now they're changing diapers!

3. Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz
Ashlee sort of denied her pregnancy in a way that made everyone suspect it even more. Then Pete got defensive about it. And then, finally, Pete confirmed the whole thing on his blog. Actually, after their quick engagement and wedding in May, the fact that these kids were having a kid was less surprising than the name they chose for their bundle of joy, Bronx Mowgli.

2. Jamie Lynn Spears and Casey Aldridge
Technically, the littlest Spears shocked the world back in 2007 when she announced her pregnancy. But since the 17-year-old gave birth to daughter Maddie Briann in June of this year, she still counts, right? Opting to raise her baby with boyfriend Casey Aldridge (who's become a tabloid magnet in his own right) near her family's home in Louisiana, the former "Zoey 101" star worked to get her GED and has some plans to go to college in the future.

1. Clay Aiken
Perhaps the Claymates were the only ones surprised to learn the "American Idol" runner-up is gay, but the earlier news that he was going to be a father made quite a ripple. The American Idol and his friend Jaymes Foster decided to raise son Parker together. "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things," the singer said when he came out and introduced his son in the same People article. "I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that."

Honorable mentions

Ricky Martin had twins via surrogate. Taylor Hanson, 25, and his wife welcomed their fourth child and named him Viggo Moriah (his brothers both had kids this year too). "Full House" alumna Jodie Sweetin had a kid only months before announcing she was getting divorced. Action star Vin Diesel and his model girlfriend had a daughter when no one was looking. Minnie Driver had a son but refused to name the dad. Alaskan first daughter Bristol Palin announced that she was expecting a bundle of joy, courting some controversy for mom, VP candidate Sarah Palin. Lisa Marie Presley had twins (insisting she wasn't just fat). Usher and his wife had another kid, Naviyd Ely Raymond, only a year after the birth of Usher Raymond V. And, of course, there was the pregnant man ...

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• Clay Aiken

Simon Cowell
Photo: Gustavo Caballero/ Getty Images

Just a day after People magazine unveiled its cover story about Clay Aiken coming out of the closet, Simon Cowell responded to the news in his usual sarcastic fashion. "Wow. That's a shock. It's like being told Santa Claus isn't real," he told "Extra." "Unbelievable."

But he did offer some words of support for the singer: "Good for him. If he said it, it's the right thing for him. Good for him." Cowell added that he didn't think the singer's fans should be shocked by the revelation, saying, "I don't think anyone cares. Let's face it: It's 2008. You know. Who cares?"

In the years after the singer competed on "American Idol" in 2003, he would neither confirm nor deny his sexuality, despite wild speculation that he was gay.

The MTV community has responded mostly with support for Aiken. "Clay ... Aiken ... is ... gay? This is news how? I'm glad he finally came out, though. Good for him! I just don't understand how this is worthy of a magazine cover or any headline," Tess wrote.

Mspirate924 said, "So what if he's gay? He came out, and that's his own personal business."

Outside of the MTV message boards, it seemed that while many Aiken fans — also known as Claymates — were shocked by the announcement, they wanted to support the "Idol" runner-up. Yenn on the official "American Idol" message board said, "It really makes no difference whether Clay is gay or not. And it's good to see so many people feel the same way."

Stilldannysfan echoed the sentiment, congratulating Clay for not only opening up about his sexuality, but also for starting a family. "I am so happy for Clay, both for becoming a proud papa and for finally being honest and open. I am sure the relief he is going to feel at not having to dodge the question over and over is going to be amazing," the commenter said. "Now he can devote all of his energy to raising his son and singing his songs without having to worry about 'everyone finding out.' Oh, and doesn't he look so completely happy holding his son?"

Other fans seemed to be in denial about Aiken's decision to come out. VoteForTheWorst.com compiled quotes from a number of fan sites, including one that said, "I think many will realize tomorrow that he is saying he is Happy = Gay. Happy about his new son, Parker. Not that he likes men."

Still, others turned their backs on the singer. Another commenter quoted on VoteForTheWorst said, "I was still hoping — wanting to be blind. Now my stomach just feels revolted. It was fun for 5 years. Now for me ... it's over. Wishing Clay all the best."

A fan on the Clayboard wrote, "I just wish he would have kept quiet about it instead of blabbing in a major publication. Now I have to endure the humiliation of being proven to be incredibly STUPID! I have donated all my Clay Aiken tee shirts, CDs, etc. to charity and some of the stuff ended up in the landfill, which is a good place for it."

Meanwhile, there will always be a commenter or two willing to joke about the whole thing. "In other news, Jon Stewart is Jewish, and Kanye West is a crybaby," a reader going by the handle Leon Doyle Is GOD wrote on MTV.com.

Aiken took to his Web site to thank supporters for sticking by his side, according to People.com. "We'll 'talk' more later," Aiken wrote. "But, suffice it to say, for the first time in recent memory, I am speechless. I'm so proud to know and love all of you.

"My family is so much larger than Parker, Jaymes, mom, Brett, etc. It extends to each of you," he added. "And I couldn't be more blessed."

• Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken
Photo: Al Pereira/ WireImage

"It was the first decision I made as a father," Clay Aiken told People magazine of his decision to stop dodging questions about his sexuality. The article's headline said it all: "Yes, I'm Gay." "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things," the singer said. "I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that."

Appearing on the cover of this week's magazine cradling the newborn baby, Parker, who was conceived through in vitro fertilization with the singer's best friend, record producer Jaymes Foster, Aiken told the magazine that his son will be raised in an environment that he described as "accepting and allowing him to be happy."

(Go to the MTV Newsroom blog to see Clay Aiken dodge the question about his sexuality back in 2006.)

Aiken, 29, said he has "no idea" if his son will be gay or straight, but he knows it's not something he can predict or affect. "It's not something I'll have anything to do with, or that he'll have anything to do with," Aiken told the magazine. "It's already probably up inside the code there. ... No matter what the situation you're in, if you're raised in a loving environment, that's the most important thing."

Nearly stealing Aiken's thunder after more than a year of similarly open speculation, Lindsay Lohan also came out this week and admitted what most of the world already knew — that she is in a relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson.

The news on Aiken, which came after his return to Broadway last week in the role of Sir Robin in "Monty Python's Spamalot," might surprise some of his hard-core fans, the so-called "Claymates," but he said he was prepared for that. "Whether it be having a child out of wedlock, or whether it be simply being a homosexual, it's going to be a lot," he said, adding that fans would have to deal with the news in their own way. He realizes that some may be shocked, but he hopes they stick around and "know that I've never intended to lie to anybody at all. ... But if they leave, I don't want them to leave hating me."

The People story's headline is reminiscent of the 1997 Time magazine cover story in which Ellen DeGeneres ended years of speculation with the phrase "Yep, I'm Gay." The born-again Christian singer says he told his mother, Faye, that he was gay four years ago after dropping off his younger brother Brett, who was being deployed to Iraq, at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. "I started crying in the car," Aiken said. "It was dark. I was sitting there, thinking to myself. I don't know why I started thinking about it. ... I just started bawling. She made me pull over the car and it just came out." Aiken said his mother started crying and was "obviously somewhat stunned. But she was very supportive and very comforting." She continues to struggle with it, but he said she's "come a long way."

Aiken had dodged questions about his sexuality almost from the moment he emerged on the international stage in 2003 as the runner-up on "Idol." He has often said his personal life was nobody else's business, and in 2005, when ABC's Diane Sawyer asked him about it, he called the question "really rude." OK! magazine asked openly gay former 'NSYNC member and current "Dancing With the Stars" hoofer Lance Bass — who came out in 2006 — what he thought of Aiken's news, and he told the magazine, "It's great! I'm so happy he's finally going to be happy with himself and share that with the world."

The news also elicited support from the Family Equality Council, a national nonprofit that fights for equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families. "Much like Rosie O'Donnell, the announcement that Clay Aiken is gay reinforces a simple reality: The American public can no longer say it does not know a gay or lesbian parent," executive director Jennifer Chrisler wrote in a statement. "Clay Aiken's desire to raise a child in an open and honest manner will make his life, and his son's, all the better. We hope he and his son find all the happiness they deserve, and the Family Equality Council will work toward the day that Clay and Parker Foster Aiken can enjoy the same rights as other American families."

The news comes just a day after blogs exploded with the news that the not-so-secret friendship between Lohan, 22, and Ronson, 31 — who have been seen together constantly over the past year — is in fact a romantic one. Lohan and Ronson appeared on the "Loveline" radio show on Monday night, and at the end of their segment, Lohan casually confirmed that she's been involved with Ronson for a while.

DJ Ted Stryker asked Lohan, "You guys — you and Samantha — have been going out for how long now?" She laughed and replied, "A long ... for a very long time." Lohan's publicist, however, told The Associated Press on Monday that despite other rumors, Lohan and Ronson are not engaged to be married.

• Clay Aiken
• Lindsay Lohan
• Samantha Ronson
• Ellen Degeneres

Clay Aiken
Photo: Joe Kohen/ Getty Images

After years of speculation and rumors about his sexuality, Clay Aiken has apparently confirmed that he's gay in the forthcoming issue of People magazine.

In an unusual string of events, the apparent cover of the magazine was posted on PerezHilton.com on Tuesday afternoon (September 23). The cover bears a photo of Aiken with his new son, Parker Foster, and a headline proclaiming, "Yes, I'm Gay," with a subheadline that continues: "The Idol star opens up about his emotional decision to come out: 'I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things.' "

Asked by MTV News for confirmation, a representative for People neither confirmed nor denied the cover's accuracy, saying only: "We can confirm that Clay Aiken and his son are featured on the next issue of People. For the complete story, please visit www.people.com at 7 a.m. [Wednesday]."

The news comes just weeks after the birth of Parker Foster Aiken, whom the singer has said he intends to raise with the child's mother, his friend and musical producer Jaymes Foster. Aiken and Foster met while he was a contestant on "American Idol"; the child was conceived via artificial insemination.

In the past, Aiken has been apprehensive and even defensive on the topic of his sexuality. In an interview with Diane Sawyer in 2006, he famously called her "really rude" for asking. "I don't understand why it's any of your business."

When MTV News caught up with Aiken after the Sawyer interview in 2006, he talked about why he feels so strongly about keeping his life private. (Watch the uncut 2006 interview here, in which Aiken addresses rumors about his sexuality.) "[Knowing] who I'm dating and what kind of cereal I eat ain't gonna benefit anybody else," he said. "That kind of thing is not important. I think there's a distinction.

"I told you what mine is, and I think for each person, you do what's right for you," he continued. "For me, part of the reason that I have anxiety is the fact that I feel like people are always staring at me. So it's important for me to make sure that I have my friends and vacation, and what I do at home with my family and that type of thing [stays private]."

• Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken
Photo: Joe Kohen/ WireImage.com

Clay Aiken is officially a father, his mother reportedly told a Raleigh, North Carolina, radio station.

The "American Idol" vet and his friend and producer Jaymes Foster, 50, welcomed a son, Parker Foster Aiken, at 8:08 a.m. ET Friday (August 8) at an undisclosed location. Aiken's mother, Faye, broke the news to radio station WRAL later Friday morning.

She told the station the baby has dark hair and weighs 6 pounds and 2 ounces and is 19 inches long. She also said Aiken "is smiling from ear to ear." Foster, Aiken and their son are all doing fine, according to Faye.

News of the pregnancy surfaced in May, along with reports that the baby was conceived via artificial insemination.

Aiken has long been under scrutiny about his sexuality but has shied away from addressing the matter directly. He told MTV News in 2006, "[Knowing] who I'm dating and what kind of cereal I eat ain't gonna benefit anybody else. That kind of thing is not important.

"I think there's a distinction," he continued. "People have different opinions on that type of thing. I told you what mine is, and I think for each person, you do what's right for you. For me, part of the reason that I have anxiety is the fact that I feel like people are always staring at me. So it's important for me to make sure that I have my friends and vacation, and what I do at home with my family and that type of thing [stays private]."

Aiken and Foster, who met when Aiken was a contestant on "Idol," have said they plan to raise the child together. Jaymes is music producer David Foster's sister.

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