Clay Aiken Talks Keeping Sexuality Private

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American Idol,Clay Aiken,Music,Celebrities,Broadway

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Clay Aiken in the Broadway production of Monty Python's Spamalot
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Clay Aiken in New York (Oct. 2007)
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Clay Aiken thrilled fans in Texas on the 4th of July

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FIRST PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008 8:01 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: April 25, 2008 9:07 AM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Clay Aiken has no interest in taking his love life public.

During a promotional appearance for his upcoming album, “On My Way Here,” and his Broadway show “Spamalot,” the “American Idol” Season 2 runner-up told “The Billy Bush Show” it’s only the media who cares whether he is gay or straight.

“I think for the most part, I really think that people don’t care, honestly,” Clay told Billy Bush. “I think that the press… people like that care more than anybody else does.”

Aiken told Billy that when press attention first began focusing on his sexuality following his “Idol” season, things were rough.

“It can be difficult initially. I think when you get into anything and you’re not used to people scrutinizing this, that or the other… it bothers you,” Aiken said. “After awhile you kind of just say, ‘Forget this… This is not who I am, this is not about me, what I want to do is be a singer, want to be an entertainer, and forget all that stuff.’”

The singer, who releases his new album on May 6, said his sexuality is not an interest to most people — it is his voice they are interested in.

“I think for the most part, people don’t want to have that type of stuff pushed, people who are living in Omaha or in Charlotte or wherever,” he said. “They don’t want stuff like that pushed in their face, I don’t think that’s necessary and that’s also not what I’m here for. I mean I went on ‘Idol’ to be a singer, I went on ‘Idol’ to be an entertainer and that’s what my priority is.”

Aiken will continue his journey as a singer with “On My Way Here.”

And while he may not comment publicly on his love life, Aiken gets revealing, somewhat, in song.

“Some of the songs on the album are personal, some of them are not personal, some of them are very universal and I like to keep that — allow people to interpret it that way,” he said.

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