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Clay Aiken sets out on holiday trek
Clay Aiken is gearing up to spread the holiday cheer on his "Christmas in the Heartland" tour, which launches next month.
But first, the "American Idol" alumnus has a couple of special shows on deck. On Friday (10/26), he'll take part in the star-studded "Neil Sedaka 50 Years of Hits" tribute concert in New York City, which benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Then, on Nov. 6, Aiken will head to Las Vegas to serve as the exclusive musical guest for the "Capital One Holiday Celebration on Ice" show with 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen and a host of other champion skaters. That program will be taped for a Christmas Day broadcast on NBC-TV.
Aiken's holiday outing is officially set to kick off Nov. 26 in Wichita, KS. The tour will visit theaters across the Midwest and East through late December. The itinerary is listed below.
Meanwhile, the singer is already filling up his calendar for next year. He will make his Broadway debut in Monty Python's "Spamalot" from Jan. 18 to May 4 at New York City's Shubert Theatre, according to his official fan club website. Aiken will play the role of Sir Robin in the award-winning musical.
"Clay Aiken is amazing beyond that glorious voice," "Spamalot" Director Mike Nichols said in a statement. "Turns out he is an excellent comic actor and a master of character."
America is also about to find out if Aiken is a smarty pants. The performer is slated to appear on the celebrity edition of FOX-TV game show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" He'll play the game to earn money for The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which helps children with special needs. The episode is scheduled to air Nov. 1.
Aiken has sold more than 6 million albums since becoming the second-season runner-up on FOX-TV's "American Idol," according to his fan club website. His latest set, "A Thousand Different Ways," surfaced last fall and debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200. The record comprises cover versions of love songs spanning the last three decades, along with four new tunes.
