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Album releases pushed back for 'American Idols' Studdard, Aiken
The debut album from "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard will be in stores on Nov. 11--about two months later than expected--while runner-up Clay Aiken 's set will hit stores on Oct. 14, a month behind its originally announced release date.
Studdard's "Soulful" was executive produced by J Records head Clive Davis. He already has recorded cuts featuring Fat Joe and R. Kelly, according to a press release.
"As you know, I've been touring non-stop and haven't had the chance to make my album the way I want to," Studdard said in a statement. "In order to work with the best of the best--Missy [Elliott], R. Kelly, Harold Lilly, Static, etc.--I need time to vibe with them so that I can put out the best album possible."
Aiken has traveled to Los Angeles, Miami and London for recording sessions, working with executive producer Davis and producers and songwriters including Steve Mac, Cliff Magness, Desmond Child, Steve Morales and Rick Nowels. His forthcoming album is not yet titled.
Aiken, Studdard and other top finalists from this year's Fox-TV talent competition "American Idol" are currently in the midst of the 40-city "American Idols Live " tour, which wraps up in Los Angeles on Aug. 31.
Though Studdard won the "American Idol" competition, Aiken's debut single has fared better on the singles chart. Both singles were released on the same day in June.
Aiken's single "This is the Night / Bridge Over Troubled Water" sold 392,975 copies during its first week in stores, the biggest one-week sales tally for any single since Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997." Studdard's "Flying Without Wings / Superstar" sold 285,917 copies during its first week in stores, and debuted at No. 2 on the singles sales chart.
Plans originally called for Studdard and Aiken to release their albums simultaneously in August.
Click here to read liveDaily's recent interview with Clay Aiken.
