Clay Aiken Calls Out Current American Idol Judges for Being Too Nice

As a music enthusiast and follower of country artists, I can’t help but feel inspired by Gabby Barrett’s journey. Her determination, resilience, and unwavering passion for her craft are truly commendable. From her third-place finish on American Idol to the release of her hit singles like “I Hope” and “The Good Ones,” she has shown an impressive ability to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing world of country music.

That’s a no from Clay Aiken, dawg.

The finalist of “American Idol” season two, who was defeated by Ruben Studdard in 2003, voiced his open opinions regarding the show’s judging style versus the criticism he and other contestants received from the original judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul.

According to Aiken’s exclusive interview with TopMob News, the latest crop of Idol judges aren’t offering anything useful, he said. Instead, it seems they’re only saying things like “that was great” or “that was wonderful.” But if that’s all they’re doing, one might wonder why they’re there in the first place?

The judges on the music competition show as of late have been Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. They’ve been steering the ship since the program returned to air on the ABC network in 2023.

After finishing the 22nd season, Perry decided to step down from the show. Notably, Carrie Underwood, who won the competition in its fourth season, will be the first former contestant to become a permanent judge in the upcoming season 23. As for Carrie, she has previously expressed her intentions to be truthful and constructive while still maintaining kindness during her judging role.

According to Aiken’s perspective, given the type of comments the judges are providing at the moment, there might be a possibility to trim these comments altogether to reduce the time spent on air.

He jokingly pointed out, “Imagine how many resources we could conserve and increase our ad sales by approximately 50 units, if we simply eliminated the three-minute interval following each performance, during which we listen to three individuals expressing their compliments, such as ‘That was fantastic. You’re a star.’

The unseen vocalist, set to launch his initial Christmas album after over a decade on November 22nd, expressed that he holds a strong interest in precise appraisals as they were instrumental in his personal American Idol experience.

He revealed that he evolved, not necessarily from all, but many criticisms. During my time on the show, I received a lot of critiques which I believe made the show most effective when it helped people grow. Every week, I strived to enhance myself based on the feedback I received.

He stated, “It’s not helpful to merely praise someone without also providing constructive feedback about areas for improvement.

Aiken’s thoughts on constructive feedback during his tenure on “American Idol” resurface as he prepares for his music comeback with “Christmas Bells Are Ringing.” Following a hiatus from the music scene to assist in raising his 16-year-old son, Parker, and dabble in politics, including a bid for Congress, he was eager to step back into the recording studio.

He shared that he discovered a greater opportunity to positively impact lives through singing compared to his prospects in politics. He explained this to TopMob, adding that since he is inherently cheerful, pursuing something that could potentially bring joy, like Christmas music, seemed fitting.

He expressed that Christmas seems incredibly fitting for him, and the primary reason for his return is to engage in something uplifting. What could be more delightful than celebrating the holiday season?

For more about where some of your Idol favorites are today, read on.

Over the years, the mother of River and Remy has significantly progressed from the time she appeared in this particular moment on the first season of ‘American Idol’ back in 2002. This New York resident now boasts three Grammy awards and is still accumulating more (with her latest album, ‘Chemistry,’ nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2024 Grammys). She has also achieved three No.1 hits, served as a judge on NBC’s ‘The Voice’, and currently hosts her own successful daytime talk show titled ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’.

In September 2008, the second runner-up from season two made a couple of significant disclosures. He announced on Good Morning America that the birth of his son Parker (with his close friend and music producer Jaymes Foster) prompted him to come out. He explained, “I can’t raise a child and teach him how to lie or hide things.” Additionally, he expressed a desire to ensure his son would never grow up in an environment where it wasn’t okay to be himself, no matter what.

Following his victory in season two of American Idol, Ruben garnered a Grammy nomination and put out several chart-topping albums. In the year 2013, he participated in The Biggest Loser as a contestant, earning him a favorite among fans. Despite being eliminated twice, he absorbed beneficial insights from the program.

To be completely honest, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for every single step I’ve taken on my incredible journey. As I shared with TopMob News last December, life throws us challenges, we stumble, but then we rise again. And even though I’ve faced some tough times, having to start over twice, it feels amazing to be back here.

I may not have triumphed in season three, but let me tell you, this musician has more than made up for it! First came an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls in 2006, followed by a Grammy for her work on the musical adaptation of The Color Purple in 2017. She even served as a judge on The Voice. Now, as a mom to David, she’s embarking on her latest project: a talk show all her own!

Since the day she first appeared on the American Idol stage, Underwood established herself as an icon in pop culture. Unsurprisingly, she not only claimed victory during season four but has since reigned supremely in the realm of country music.

Four years ago, the runner-up from the fourth season is currently married and has four children – three sons and a daughter. In spite of encountering severe health issues back in 2006, the renowned Southern rocker has produced three successful albums since his participation on American Idol.

With his large hairdo and booming voice (many remember his energetic performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” during the fourth season), Constantine was an ideal choice for the role in Broadway’s Rock of Ages, earning him a Tony nomination.

Following his triumph in season five, the silver fox saw his self-titled album achieve platinum status and took to the stage on Broadway for “Grease”. In more contemporary times, he’s swapped music for television, becoming the host of a program called “State-Plate”, which emphasizes farm-to-table dining. Despite this shift, he continues to nurture his original passion, as tour dates have been scheduled for January 2024.

Before Justin Bieber became a sensation, there was McPhee fever, which helped Katharine secure both singing and acting roles, such as in the Broadway-inspired show Smash and the drama Scorpion. She has been married to David Foster since 2019 and is now a mother to their musically inclined son Rennie. In an interview with TopMob News, Katharine expressed her hope that Rennie would follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming proficient with various musical instruments. “I would love for him to be well-versed in many types of musical instruments like his dad,” she said. “Of course, he’s only 2-and-a-half, and we’re not pushing him. But I hope that he will develop a good understanding of all instruments, just as his dad has.

Following his stint on “American Idol,” the season five finalist who scored a hit with the song “Wait for You” traveled to Angola and collaborated with former “Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi to promote Malaria No More. In addition, Elliott garnered attention in 2010 when he survived Chile’s earthquake and tweeted about the experience. Currently, he continues his musical career and is a father to a 3-year-old daughter named Camilla with Karen Cruz.

During the fifth season of American Idol, the country music artist placed sixth, but she has since appeared in Hallmark’s Christmas in Graceland and received three Daytime Emmy nominations for her TV show Pickler & Ben. Tragically, her husband Kyle Jacobs took his own life in February 2023. Since then, she has been reminiscing about their shared years together. In an interview with People published last August, she recounted one of the most profound lessons taught by her late husband: “In a crisis, if you don’t know what to do, ‘do nothing, just be still.'” She has decided to follow this advice in the wake of his passing.

In 2007, the youngest champion ever crowned in season six ignited a flurry of excitement. Her Battlefield tour took her to 35 cities across the United States, and to add more fire to the mix, she made her Broadway debut in 2010, starring in the musical In the Heights. Since then, her success has blossomed, culminating in the birth of her first child with husband Dana Isaiah in May 2018. Over the years, she’s revisited Idol and competed on the 31st season of Dancing With the Stars.

The champion from season seven, renowned for his hit song “Time of My Life,” symbolizes his musical triumph, yet the tune’s title might as well encapsulate his activities beyond the stage. In 2010, he journeyed to Ethiopia on behalf of the United Nations, aiming to empower women in that nation. Additionally, he participated in the Race for Hope in D.C. to collect funds for brain cancer research, a cause close to his heart following his brother Adam’s passing from the disease in 2009.

Following his runner-up position alongside David during season seven, the singer embarked on a two-year religious mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. Upon his return in 2014, he has consistently continued with his performances. In June 2021, this performer publicly identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community. On Instagram, in October, he expressed the joy of self-acceptance and hoped that by living openly, he could inspire others to embrace themselves too.

Although often overshadowed by his runner-up Adam Lambert, the season eight winner has quietly achieved success with his second album titled after himself. Launched in November 2009, it made its way to the 11th spot on the Billboard 200, and one of its tracks, “I Need to Know,” was included in an episode of “The Vampire Diaries.

If winning public approval were considered a trophy, the eighth season’s contentious second-place contestant has become an undisputed champion. Since his stint on the reality TV show, he’s dropped numerous albums, spearheaded tours, garnered multiple nominations (including a Grammy recognition), followed in Freddie Mercury’s footsteps by performing as Queen’s frontman, and even graced the screen in Fox’s reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

It is worth mentioning that he temporarily sat on the judging panel for Idol. Additionally, he opened the 2019 Oscars with a rendition of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.

Following the eighth series of “American Idol”, Gokey wed Leyicet Peralta in 2012, and since then they’ve welcomed four beautiful children into their family.

In 2021, a three-time Grammy nominee put out a Christian music album titled “Jesus People”. Additionally, he’s the founder of the eyewear brand, Danny Gokey Eyewear.

Following his inclusion in the top 10 finalists’ summer tour in 2010, the season nine winner embarked on his solo music career. Lee later married model-actress Jonna Walsh in 2012, having met her during the filming of his debut music video post-Idol. Today, he is a renowned singer-songwriter, with several of his songs being featured in popular shows such as The Walking Dead.

In the ninth season, Lee DeWyze was the one who came in second place. This rock singer with a resemblance to Janis Joplin tied the knot with musician Brian Walker and debuted her first album titled “Farmer’s Daughter” in December 2010. However, she lost her record deal when RCA dismantled Arista, J Records, and Jive Records. She made her acting debut on the second season of ABC’s “Body of Proof.”

In May 2013, the singer parted ways with her husband. After their divorce, she shared with The Boot that her second album “All That For This” represented a new phase in her life.

Since then, the mother of two has released albums like “Alive” in 2017 and “HitchHiker” in 2022.

The season 10 winner was the first Idol champ since Ruben to have his first album, Clear as Day, debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He was named New Artist of the Year at the 2011 American Country Awards and sang the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series that same year. In June 2018, the “This Is It” and “Five More Minutes” singer married longtime girlfriend Gabi Dugal. They welcomed son Avery in October 2022.

After coming second to Scotty in the country competition, she secured a record deal and unveiled her studio debut, “Wildflower,” in October 2011. Following her stint on the show, the singer shared the stage with Scotty at the 2011 CMT Music Awards, made her Grand Ole Opry debut, and even performed alongside Martina McBride at the CMA Music Festival.

In the tenth season, he ended up coming in sixth place, although this wasn’t entirely his fault. The judges had saved one contestant five weeks earlier during that same season, which impacted his final standing. However, he was a popular favorite among fans. After appearing on the American Idol Live tour and recording a duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with fellow finalist and supposed love interest Haley Reinhart, he eventually signed with Concord Records.

Initially eliminated before the live voting rounds in season 10, Allen subsequently achieved two consecutive chart-topping hits with “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To” in 2018, and was awarded the New Artist of the Year at the 2021 Country Music Association Awards.

In April 2023, Allen and his wife Alexis announced they were expecting their third child and were ending their two-year marriage. A month later, Allen was accused of sexual assault and abuse by his former manager in a lawsuit. Despite confessing to infidelity and publicly apologizing to Alexis for embarrassing her with the affair, he denied the accusations of sexual misconduct, stating that his relationship with the former manager was consensual.

Shortly after the birth of their son Cohen Ace James in September, the couple announced their efforts to reconcile their marriage.

Following his victory in season 11, the artist shot to the peak of music charts with his popular hit “Home,” which doubled as the theme song for NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics. His newest album, titled “Drift Back,” was released in June this year.

The season 16 winner hinted to TopMob News before the release of her 2019 album “Whirlwind” that it would feature a variety of different sounding songs, as she found it challenging to stick to one style because she adores them all so much. Interestingly, her current single from 2023, “SOS I’m In Love,” has a clear point of view. To add, she is disclosing her relationship with musician Gabe Burdulis following her breakup with season 16 runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson.

Ever since my runner-up stint on season 16 of that beloved ABC series, I’ve found myself immersed in the thrilling world of music release and seizing the unique opportunities that come with it. As a lifelong music enthusiast, I’ve been living the dream – from sharing the stage with none other than Luke Bryan at his final tour show to releasing my latest album, Southern Galactic, in November.

Following her third-place finish on season 16 of American Idol, the country singer known as “I Hope” dedicated herself to completing her album. She shared with TopMob News, “I’m thrilled about performing at Stagecoach, and touring with Brad Paisley just makes everything even sweeter.” She admitted, “It’s amazing to go on tour with him.

2024-11-22 17:22

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