Remember American Idol star Clay Aiken? Well, this is what he's up to now ...

He may not have won Idol, but he won the hearts of viewers.

But what is Clay Aiken up to now?

Not only has he released five studio albums since 'American Idol', but he co-authored a New York Times best-selling book and starred in the Monty Python musical 'Spamalot'.

In August 2008, he announced the birth of his son, Parker, and a month later, he came out as gay in People magazine.

In the years since he has become an activist and politician.

In 2014, he made a run for Congress in North Carolina's Second District, though he eventually lost to the Republican incumbent.

And last month the 44-year-old announced he is going on tour with his fellow American Idol competitor, Ruben Studdard, in 2023 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their appearance on the show. 

The second season of American Idol aired from January to May of 2003. Studdard faced off against Aiken in the finals, and ultimately won.

Following the show, the pair remained close, with Aiken saying: "We don’t get to choose our family. Most family is predetermined by blood; some are predestined by God to come into our lives. I’ve got one brother who was born into my family and one brother who the good Lord introduced me to in 2003.

"A lot gets written and said about ‘how sweet it is’ that Rᴜʙᴇɴ and I have ‘kept in touch’ over the years. There aren’t many humans more selfless or gracious or loyal than he. America fell in love with him because his performances made them feel happy and welcomed; that’s who he is in real life too."