Clay News!

I think she is touring on her own this summer. Mostly she has played with the big names, as had Kellie Pickler. Pickler has been playing with the biggest names in country music and she is again now. Lots of exposure for her for sure with the acts she is with. No wonder she has been getting radio play and award nominations.

I threw Carrie's name in the mix of "huge" stars because she gets tons of critical praise and has already won a boatload of BIG awards. A boatload! Her first CD has sold over 6 million and is still on the charts over two years later. That is huge to me! Levy from Rolling Stone says she is "THE" biggest thing in the record business right now. She has been on the cover of so many major mags and on SNL several times already. So yeah, I think she is huge and I think she is one to come from AI that will have a long career ala Reba, Faith, Martina etc. Like her or not (I do) she is here to stay.

Oh, and she is not made fun of or tabloid fodder. She is seen as gorgeous, nice and normal. I think that helps too. I wish another AI alum could say that.

I think Carrie will remain huge , she just hit her niche in Country. She is like Faith Hill.

I just still cannot wrap my head around why some of his Clay fans would be put off by him being gay? Doesn't he still have the same voice and do all the great humantarian work? I can't understand. I lOVE Alan Rickmam , DDL and Johnny Depp. I would not care one way or another. The only thing that would turn me off is them being complete a holes. I mean did his die hard fans have certain expectations from him?

I think the "Clay's awful homophobic fans will drop him if it's ever proven that he's gay" mantra is a myth. I don't believe Clay's fans are any more likely to be homophobic than anyone else who came from Idol. Frankly, the only people I know who stopped being fans over the sexuality issue were upset that he didn't come out so he could be a role model for gay youth.


Like I've said before, if Clay is gay and comes out - and no, I don't consider any of this proof of anything just as I don't consider stories about how Clay was always physically affectionate with his female friends to be proof that he's straight - it will shake up the fandom just as Clinton's confessions about Monica Lewinsky shook up the political boards I was on. Initially, I do think there will be some fans who will threaten to leave the fandom, but in the end, I believe nearly all will be back.

Also, I think the anger won't be over his being gay, it will be over the fact that people don't like being lied to. Just as the people who were angry at Clinton were more angry that he lied to them than they were over the actual reason he was lying in the first place.

That is exactly what it will be about - the lying. Nobody likes to be lied too. In the case of being gay though I pretty much understand why one would want to lie about it. Gays are still made fun of, both on TV and in RL. Not right, but it happens. Also, since Clay has a religious family (there was an Aunt who was outraged when he went on Ellen because she is gay) and many overly religious types do think being gay is sinful, he may not have wanted his family to know.

I won't stop being a fan, but I am disappointed simply because I wanted him to have the perfect, healthy, happy, normal family. The love of his life! The beautiful wedding. The wonderful home. All those great things that someone so kind, caring and generous so richly deserve. Things are not going to be very easy for him - tabloid and media wise - with this interesting family he is creating.

Badger, I see your point of this situation not "proving" anything, but if he really is already planning baby number 2 with his "best friend", than he sure isn't looking for that perfect girl to marry. I could understand having the first one now because he wants a baby so badly, but a second? Than he just is not thinking he will be finding love anytime soon. At least not with a woman.

Did he ever say he was not gay? I've never heard him comment on his private life at all in interviews.

He has never said the words "I am not gay". Not ever. He made comments like "people make the wrong assumptions about me", and something in an interview with Diane Sawyer when his CD came out that went like representing people who "aren't gay, but don't sleep around with everybody". So he has implied in both print and TV interviews that he is not gay, but he has never firmly said "No, I am not gay". Just comments that would led one to believe he was saying he wasn't gay. I guess that sounds clear as mud

My dear departed father had a word for when people did things that defied any kind of logic or explanation. That word was "stroonsy". I have no doubt that were he alive today, he'd describe this situation as "stroonsy".

FWIW, it's not out of the question that Clay could find the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with and have more children. Even if that person were a man, they could adopt or use a surrogate mother. I don't think this situation precludes Clay from having a more "traditional" parenting set-up.

The one child doesn't, but to my thinking if he is planning another baby with Jaymes then he clearly doesn't see himself in a "traditional" relationship with a woman anytime soon. Why else would a 29 year old healthy young man already be planning more kids with a "best friend" instead of looking for the love of his life to raise a family with? It likes he already knows that even a few years from now there won't be that type of relationship with a woman. So I agree with you that he could be in a loving relationship, but with a man, and using Jaymes as a surrogate. He just isn't acting like a 29 year old man who is thinking of a wife.

I am not saying any of this is wrong, but IMHO, if the story is true that he is already planning to use AI to have Jaymes have baby number 2, well I just really think that makes a statement. That is just how I see it. Like I said, one baby may just mean he is too anxious to be a father to wait any longer. Planning number 2 already??

Look, I just want to say, for 5 years I have thought Clay was NOT gay. No matter what anybody else said. I really thought he was straight. When this story broke I thought, well maybe. But when the story of planning the second came out, well I felt if true that there was a good chance he was gay. Clay is young, smart, funny, rich and good looking (IMHO anyway) There are thousands of women that would LOVE to marry him and have his babies. Why would he prefer to AI a 50 year old friend instead of falling in love with a beautiful young woman and make babies the old fashion way??

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Also, I think the anger won't be over his being gay, it will be over the fact that people don't like being lied to.

Possibly they should get off their high horses and realize that they backed him into a corner. Remember, there were some fans who made some big stink about trying to sue him because he wasn't what they wanted him to be.

I'm so sick of Claymate nonsense about screeching blue murder about the slightest HINT that he MIGHT be gay or MIGHT be "lying" about being gay that I... basically gave up the fandom, as much as I still like Clay as a singer.

I don't think I'm EVER going to forgive the mods at the Clack House who suspended me for a day because I made this argument:

It is pointless to argue about whether or not he is gay. Even if he were to marry and have children, folks would still question his sexuality. Some folks just will not believe him, and it's pointless to defend him or fight about it.

That got me suspended. I have no patience with such foolishness.

Humanitarian with a voice like an angel's. That's all I ever cared about. Funny as hell, too.

Well I mostly read The Clack House and Clay Street and they are not like that at all. I see a ton of support for Clay - either way - at both of those boards. I really think it will just be the very religious fans who will have a problem with it, or the true homophobes. I really don't have a problem with the fandom at all. I see a lot of smart, funny, caring and devoted women being very supportive of Clay. They have also been extremely!!!!! generous to his causes and that is very special. A few bad apples don't spoil the bunch for me when it comes to Clay fans.

I'm sorry, but getting in vitro at 50 is just wrong no matter how you slice it. Bad decisions on everyone's part. In fact, idiotic.

The chances of bringing a very sick, premature infant into the world with severe medical problems is very high. I'm sure there are plenty of able bodied 20-30 year old women out there that could have given Clay the baby he wanted and would have been much more appropriate incubators than Jaymes.

I understand that having a friend you can trust do this is important, but thinking about the best interest of your unborn child should take priority over one's own selfish motives.

I have nothing against Clay in anyway, but there are some major judgement issues here that indicate that some of the media trouble he has he definitely brings on himself.

If the eggs were donated, a woman over fifty has no higher infant risks than a younger woman.

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Well I mostly read The Clack House and Clay Street and they are not like that at all.

The Clack House is what did that to me.

Really? Well, I love most of the ladies there. It is a much smaller board. I have only been reading there the last couple of years. Maybe the bad ones left. Also, I have never met any of them in person and maybe that is the difference. I know Feblady was active on The Clack House until she met some of the people. Then she left it. But I so enjoy reading there and people have been very nice to me in Chat during the concerts.

I totally agree with you on some points Luca. I do think that Clay just HAD to know that this decision was going to get him some "interesting" press and raise a lot of eyebrows.

My gut feeling is they did not go the AI route, but the IVF route. But of course TMZ would say AI because it suits their agenda better. Much more "salacious" than IVF, and TMZ LIVES for the salacious. I just believe that at 50 she most likely had to go with IVF. I mean it's possible she didn't, but I think she probably did. Too bad neither of them are saying a word and just letting gossip sites have a field day with them.

I understand your concern for the child. I have concerns too, but mine are more for the emotional issues this boy will face when he is taunted about his conception and who his parents are - and you just know any kid of Clay Aiken is going to get some abuse from his peers Hopefully he will be strong. No kid likes to feel "different" and his parentage will indeed make him "different". Sad but true - kids can be cruel. I don't really care much what Clay and Jaymes do, but I do care that they may be bringing a child into a difficult situation. I do believe they will love him to bits and try their best to give him a great life. I hope they can succeed in that.

As far as physical problems with the child, both Clay and Jaymes have a lot of money and I am sure that they have taken every precaution to try and have a healthy child. Proper vitamins, proper eating, all the right tests. Doesn't mean a guarantee of healthy child, but I am sure they are doing all they can. I do not know if you have ever seen Jaymes Luca, but she is one healthy and pretty amazing looking 50 year old! I think she is in great shape health wise. I would kill for her tiny little body

Frazzle wrote:

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If the eggs were donated, a woman over fifty has no higher infant risks than a younger woman

Say what? How can a 50 year old uterus and cervix be as patent and strong as a 25 year olds? I understand that if the eggs are from a younger donor, the chances of Down sydrome and other genetic anomalies would be the same as a younger person, but how in the heck can the hormone fluctuations in a 50 year old woman be good for a developing fetus? *scratches head*

This leads me to ask...Has Jaymes had children before, and how many?

Jaymes was married for 23 years to her former husband. Their divorce was very recently finalize. This will be her first child.

Weird no children with hubby, but pregnant with Clay's baby before her divorce was final

Luca wrote:

Say what? How can a 50 year old uterus and cervix be as patent and strong as a 25 year olds?

ooops, my post was meant to link to some medical studies I found online saying that...I'll have to find them again later

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I understand that having a friend you can trust do this is important, but thinking about the best interest of your unborn child should take priority over one's own selfish motives.

I always struggle with a paradox when this kind of issue is raised. The child may have health problems, so he should not be conceived... because it's better... not to exist at all?

I think of this is the case of Jaymes in particular. One may assume that Clay could have found himself a younger woman to do this with, but if Jaymes is really hell-bent on having a biological child, she's pretty much stuck with herself. I know a lot of folks would suggest that she adopt instead, but apparently having a biological child is huge to some people. I asked my husband one day, in a playful moment, if he'd have considered adoption if one of us was barren.... and he told me, to my shock, that he wasn't going to raise anybody else's kids; if we couldn't have any, he'd have rather had the extra income.

That kind of caught me off guard. Apparently, the biological thing is REALLY important to some people.

Yes it is. I can tell you having biological kids was the most important thing to me my whole life. I desperately wanted to experience pregnancy, giving birth, creating a child with my husband, seeing us in that child. I mean the need was HUGE for me. Now if it turned out we couldn't have our own we would have adopted, but I do understand how your husband feels. It can be a difficult choice. You really don't know what troubles you might be taking on and I bet if the kid turns out to be one major pain in the ass (as in getting in trouble with the law etc.) it might cause a lot of second guessing.

I can understand Jaymes feeling the need to have biological kids. I just don't quite get why not with her husband of 23 years and with Clay while the divorce proceeding were going on That leads me to believe it was Clay's idea. And yes - if it was Clay's idea I do have to wonder why not have a younger woman. In fact why not a woman he is in love with and marries? Again, I can only think of one reason, especially if they are planning the second baby already. Clearly Clay is not thinking of love and marriage anytime soon.

I will not go so far as to say I think it is wrong or sinful, but I do find it strange for a man who has professed old fashioned values, being a role model - in fact to the point of over criticizing others in the biz and how they live- (I am sure you all remember the "L.A. is full of rotting souls" comment), because I am sorry but I do not find this at all the ideal way to have a family for an "old fashioned" guy.

So I agree with Abrahammy in that if she decided she really wanted a child of her own badly then it was worth the risk to her because it certainly is quite possible for her to have a normal healthy baby. But if it was Clay who initiated it than I really don't see why not a younger woman who would have an even better chance of a healthy pregnancy and child. If they are madly in love and having this child then why the hell not say so? I do not think they are myself even though there are those in the fandom who have chosen to believe they are. But I think they have chosen that because it would be the best reason to have children together and frankly I don't think those fans want to except what it means if they are planning a small brood together NOT being a couple.

So I do not find it quite MJish, but I do find it all perplexing if we are to believe all of Clay's previous comments about wanting to get married and raise a family.

It is not a deal breaker for me as far as being a fan, but I do think it is time he stops making comments about the way other celebs conduct themselves and basically implying he is better than them - but then I have never liked it when he made those comments anyway. I think in light of him choosing to make a family out of the norm means he shouldn't judge others.

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I will not go so far as to say I think it is wrong or sinful, but I do find it strange for a man who has professed old fashioned values, being a role model - in fact to the point of over criticizing others in the biz and how they live- (I am sure you all remember the "L.A. is full of rotting souls" comment), because I am sorry but I do not find this at all the ideal way to have a family for an "old fashioned" guy.

Makes me think he spent several years trying very hard to be the straight Christian son his parents wanted, and finally gave up. It's very, very hard to be a gay Christian.

That is exactly what I think and that is what is going to bother some fans. That he "put on" the goody Christian boy act. So many became devoted to him BECAUSE of that fact. There are Christian Clay boards. These are the fans he will loose. In fact he already lost many of them. The ones who acted like he was the second coming of Jesus

I understand why he tried so hard to be that boy his mama wanted him to be. Wanting to please your parents can be an overwhelming feeling. I was that way my whole life. I wanted to be daddy's perfect princess. Fortunately he thought I was So I give Clay a break there. I understand completely why he tried so hard. But, his overly religious fans are going to struggle with this.

What I fear the most for him is if he is gay, but still doesn't want his mom and religious relatives to know, that he is going to never have a loving relationship because he doesn't want to be with a woman and feels he can't be with a man because it would upset his family.

I also fear that since he is so religious himself that in his heart he may feel being gay is wrong and not act on it.

And there is where the lyrics of "Lover All Alone" came from

Now of course I could be full of shit and he is straight as an arrow and just wants kids with Jaymes for whatever reason. (but I don't think so)

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The ones who acted like he was the second coming of Jesus Rolling Eyes

It sounds like some of these fans need to get a life. That's pretty serious stuff.

I've wondered if maybe Clay just isn't that good at establishing and maintaining intimate relationships. Maybe that's why he hasn't met the right person to marry. He's had a rough few years but now he seems to be a bit more sure of himself. I hope this child brings loads of joy into his life.

Lau, it is true. There are/were fans who thought he was the second coming of Jesus. My jaw used to hit the floor

I think maybe Clay has trust issues. FWIW, I never thought Clay put on a goody-goody Christian boy act. I think maybe some fans took some things he said and put that label on him. I do believe Clay is religious and that his faith is an integral part of his life, but I don't think he considers himself some paragon of virtue.