Clay Aiken’s son, Parker, is growing up and stepping into the spotlight.
Aiken, 45, appeared on the Tuesday, August 6, episode of Celebrity Family Feud, bringing along his 15-year-old son to help win money for charity.
“This is my son Parker making his TV debut,” the American Idol alum told host Steve Harvey, pointing to the teenager.
Aiken’s team — which also consisted of his mother, brother and Parker’s mom, Jaymes Foster — competed against David Foster and wife Katharine McPhee.
American Idol paved the way for reality competition shows to help everyday people achieve their dreams of music stardom. The series premiered in 2002 on Fox with a star-studded judging panel consisting of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. American Idol‘s freshman season introduced Kelly Clarkson, who would become the show’s first breakout star. […] Jaymes, 66, is also the younger sister of music producer David, 74. “David’s sister Jaymes is on the right team. She wanted to win tonight,” Aiken quipped on Family Feud. Aiken and Jaymes, the singer’s longtime friend, welcomed their son in August 2008. Aiken later told Us Weekly how fatherhood changed his life. “I feel a little more mature and substantially older. I realized on Father’s Day, ‘Oh wait, I don’t have to do anything for Father’s Day, it is for me!’” Aiken exclusively told Us in June 2010. “It’s strange to think about that. I enjoy also the quiet of living in North Carolina still and then I come back here to New York a good chunk of the time, at least a week a month doing [press]. I’m a fan of New York. People are a little more grounded here.”
At the time, Aiken admitted that it wasn’t “that hard” balancing his music career with parenthood.
“We’ve been pretty well. Anybody who has a kid has to juggle everything. So it’s not that much different,” he said. “We have a nice system that we work out between when he’s with her and he’s with me and we’re together and all that stuff. It’s been really authentic.”
Since then, Parker has carved his own path outside of the spotlight.
Aiken appeared on season 2 of American Idol, finishing in second place behind Ruben Studdard. Despite an “in” on the reality TV competition, Parker hasn’t been interested in auditioning.
“Parker has got a dad and an aunt [Katharine McPhee], and with Ruben, an uncle, who all were on American Idol,” Clay said. “But he wanted to do something else. Had he wanted to sign up? Sure. I mean, I think that’s what you’re supposed to do is support whatever they want to do.”
