"American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken [ tickets ], who recently completed a co-headlining run with first-season winner Kelly Clarkson, sets out on his own this summer.

Aiken is due to kick of the run in early July, and a steady stream of shows are booked through the end of August; the singer's schedule also includes a handful of September stops, and a lone October performance.

The tour supports Aiken's debut album, "Measure of a Man," which surfaced last October. The set, which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart, houses last year's top-selling single, "This is the Night."

Also included on the album is Aiken's hit "The Way," which he recently released as a CD single. The disc features the non-album track "Solitaire," a cover of the Neil Sedaka original.

"Since the end of 'American Idol,' the requests for a recording of my version of Neil Sedaka's 'Solitaire' have continued to pour in," Aiken wrote in a message posted to his website last month. "I'm thrilled to say that, with the help of producers Steve Mac ('This is the Night') and Cliff Magness ('I Will Carry You,' 'Perfect Day,' 'I Survived You'), I have recorded the song and we are ready to get it to you!"

Aiken plans to perform "Solitaire" on the May 11 episode of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," according to Aiken's website.