
Singer Clay Aiken has confirmed several new dates for his Joyful Noise Christmas tour, which will be on the road in November and December to back his upcoming holiday album.
Tickets for a few of Aiken's confirmed shows are on the market now, with others scheduled to go on sale in the coming weeks. Details are in the itinerary below; organizers are expected to announce a handful of additional dates soon.
Aiken, who has parlayed his runner-up status in the 2003 season of the Fox-TV talent show "American Idol" into a thriving career, will be backed on the tour by an orchestra.
The singer, who has been on the road for much of 2004, recently wrapped up a tour that focused on the U.S. fair circuit. Earlier this year, he embarked on a co-headlining run with 2002 "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson.
Details about Aiken's upcoming holiday album remain sketchy, but the set is titled "Merry Christmas with Love," and will be in stores on Nov. 16.
Meanwhile, Random House will release the Aiken memoir "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life" on Nov. 16. According to the publisher, the book tells how faith was integral to Aiken's rise from an aspiring teacher to stardom on "American Idol."
Aiken will make many television appearances to tout the book and album, including Nov. 15 on CNN's "Larry King Live," Nov. 17 on ABC's "Live with Regis and Kelly" and NBC's "Today," and Dec. 6 on NBC's "The Tonight Show." He'll also appear as a presenter on the Nov. 15 American Music Awards, according to his website.
Last October, Aiken offered up his debut album, "Measure of a Man." The set--which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart--spawned 2003's top-selling single, "This Is the Night," as well as the hit "The Way."