Current:Home > FinanceClay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin -AssetScope
Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin
View
Date:2025-04-13 22:14:36
Clay Aiken's son Parker is his mini-me!
The "American Idol" alum was joined by his son Parker Foster Aiken, 15, in the latter's television debut on "Celebrity Family Feud," which aired Tuesday.
Along with Clay Aiken's mother and brother, he was also joined by Jaymes Foster, Parker's mother and Clay Aiken's best friend. The family went head-to-head against David Foster and Katharine McPhee's family in the hit "Family Feud" spin-off show hosted by Steve Harvey.
The families are connected as well, as Jaymes Foster is David Foster's sister and David Foster has executive produced three of Aiken's albums.
Parker got in a few clever answers, including clinching the win on the question, "Name a famous Tom that a girl would love to go to the prom with" by suggesting Tom Holland despite Harvey's skepticism. Aiken's family eventually took the win for their charity, the National Inclusion Project.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Aiken first came to fame on Season 2 of "American Idol" and, like McPhee on Season 5, was runner-up. Aiken's season was won by Ruben Studdard, while McPhee's season was won by Taylor Hicks.
All 22 'American Idol' winners, ranked.How does your favorite fare?
Aiken first announced the birth of his son on his blog in 2008. "My dear friend, Jaymes, and I are so excited to announce the birth of Parker Foster Aiken," he wrote at the time. Soon after, Aiken came out as gay in a People magazine profile.
Aiken has been open about how coming out so publicly has affected him. He told Rolling Stone, in a June investigation into allegations of LGBTQ discrimination against "American Idol," that he credits the show for introducing him to his first boyfriend and giving him room to figure things out.
"If I had not done 'Idol,' I don’t even want to claim that I would not have come out," he said. "I hope to God that I would have, but I certainly would not have found that on my own for many, many more years."
He also reflected on the years-long obsession over his sexuality before coming out.
"I never did an interview where somebody was not trying to ask me if I was gay," he said. Verification of his sexual orientation "was the only thing that anybody in the press wanted."
The fixation was everywhere, especially with comedians, he said.
"If I heard anybody setting up a gay joke on a sitcom or a late-night show, I held my breath because I knew my name was coming," he said. "Eighty percent of the time I was right."
veryGood! (3)
Related
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Moderate Republicans look to stave off challenges from the right at Utah party convention
- Crews plan to extinguish fire Saturday night from train derailment near Arizona-New Mexico line
- Brenden Rice, son of Jerry Rice, picked by Chargers in seventh round of NFL draft
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Some Americans filed free with IRS Direct File pilot in 2024, but not everyone's a fan
- South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem writes about killing her dog in new book
- Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris Make Red Carpet Debut at 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Teen accidentally kills his younger brother with a gun found in an alley
Ranking
- Small twin
- 3 children in minivan hurt when it rolled down hill, into baseball dugout wall in Illinois
- Former NFL lineman Korey Cunningham found dead in New Jersey at age 28
- Obstacles remain as women seek more leadership roles in America’s Black Church
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Jayden Daniels says pre-draft Topgolf outing with Washington Commanders 'was awesome'
- As border debate shifts right, Sen. Alex Padilla emerges as persistent counterforce for immigrants
- Vanessa Lachey Says She Was Blindsided by NCIS: Hawai'i Cancellation
Recommendation
Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
Planning on retiring at 65? Most Americans retire far earlier — and not by choice.
A former Democratic Georgia congressman hopes abortion can power his state Supreme Court bid
Virginia EMT is latest U.S. tourist arrested in Turks and Caicos after ammo allegedly found in luggage
Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
Pasteurization working to kill bird flu in milk, early FDA results find
David Pryor, former governor and senator of Arkansas, is remembered
NFL draft picks 2024: Live tracker, updates on final four rounds