Clay Nation News
April 29, 2006

2007 Calendar at Amazon.com - really
Preorders for the 2007 Clay Aiken Calendar are being accepted at Amazon.com (USD $10) and Amazon.ca (CDN $13.53) -- if you'd like to support CNN, you can do so by using the links in this newsletter. Amazon lists a ship date of June 30 -- we'll keep our fingers crossed!

Album News

Clay Blog at Official Fan Club
Clay posted on Tuesday to talk about his upcoming album, and said it will be ready 'soon.' We can't print the details (it's against Club rules) but he did thank all of his fans for our love and support and said he loves being in the studio! In order to read this and future blogs, sign up for the fan club at clayonline.com.

Clay's Web Site Update
At clayaiken.com, the News section has been updated to read: "Clay is currently in the studio working on his next & highly anticipated 3rd album that will be released on RCA Records in 2006. The release date and album title are TBD!"

In the News

Album Mentions:
Songwriter Matt Brownleewe, in his blog at Infusemag.com, informed readers that "It appears that Clay will be recording a song I helped write--"Compromise"--in the studio, one of only a handful of originals that will appear on his upcoming pop classics record. I'm anxious to hear the results!" [Ed note: so are we!]

Random Mentions:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Pickler, a 19-year-old waitress, admitted "butchering" the song "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" last week. She then proceeded to torture the Righteous Brothers classic "Unchained Melody," a tune Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken caressed three years ago."

Sturgis Journal: "Hudson is proof you don't have to win to reach your dreams. Clay Aiken is perhaps the most notable figure to emerge from "AI" without being named the winner."

Charity Auctions:
What could be better than getting a 'Clay fix' while helping out a worthwhile cause?

KEZK Children's Miracle Network Online Auction - Clay Aiken Autographed Program and Magazine Cover

Literacy Council of Wake County - Dinner with Faye Parker

Living a Dream
While working out in a Washington, D.C. hotel gym, junior Jamie Lee Strenchock overheard a man on the phone and realized it was American Idol winner Clay Aiken's personal assistant. Mustering up as much courage as she could (not to mention wiping the sweat off her face), she introduced herself and gave him her demo CD. He loved it and two months later, the aspiring singer and songwriter received a call saying he wanted her to do a duet with Aiken on his summer tour.

Thanks to her impromptu meeting with Aiken's assistant, Strenchock sang on stage with Aiken when she was only 19 years old. It was during his summer 2004 tour and she was in a state of disbelief - but she sure was enjoying it.
Read the entire article at temple-news.com

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