All About Clay Aiken's Son Parker Foster Aiken

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:DISNEY/Eric McCandless

DISNEY/Eric McCandless

Clay Aiken has a teenage son.

TheAmerican Idolrunner-up and his best friend, music producer Jaymes Foster, welcomed Parker Foster Aiken in August 2008. Though Clay and Jaymes were not romantically linked, they made plans to raise their son together, and she became pregnant through in vitro fertilization.

After welcoming his son, the “Invisible” singer publicly came out as gay in a cover story for PEOPLE in September 2008. “It was the first decision I made as a father," he explained. “I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn’t raised that way, and I’m not going to raise a child to do that.”

Clay said that he and Jaymes would raise their son in an environment that was “accepting and allowing him to be happy.” He added, “No matter what the situation you’re in, if you’re raised in a loving environment, that’s the most important thing.”

Here’s everything to know about Clay Aiken’s son, Parker Foster Aiken.

He has a family name

Clay Aiken and his mom Faye Aiken Parker arrive at the 2003 Billboard Music Awards.Frank Trapper/Corbis/Getty

Frank Trapper/Corbis/Getty

Clay and Jaymes welcomed son Parker Foster Aiken on Aug. 8, 2008, at 8:08 a.m. in North Carolina.

At the time, Clay’s mom, Faye Parker, told the local television stationWRALthat her son was “smiling from ear-to-ear” about the birth of his child, who had “dark hair.”

His parents are best friends

Clay Aiken and Jaymes Foster attend the David Foster Dinner at Bon Appetit Supper Club and Cafe on October 29, 2008 in New York City.Jemal Countess/WireImage

Jemal Countess/WireImage

Clay and Jaymes were close friends when they decided to have a child together. They met when Clay competed onAmerican Idol, and Jaymes later produced a few of his albums, includingA Thousand Different Ways.

The duo opened up to PEOPLE in September 2008 about their choice to co-parent Parker, with the singer noting that Jaymes had “always known that she wanted children.” Clay also had the same wish, saying, “I had always dreamed of it, but never really saw it as a possibility until this happened.”

He shared that he didn’t “really remember whose idea it was” to have a kid together, adding, “It was one of those things where we were both thinking of it at the back of our heads.”

Jaymes described Clay as “an incredible caregiver” who was “a natural” at changing diapers and helping lull Parker to sleep.

“On a larger scale, he’s the perfect person,” she said. “He’s been a school teacher, we have the same morals, family is very important to him and Parker means everything to us.”

His birth changed his dad’s life

Clay Aiken performs at the KISS FM Jingle Ball 2003.MediaNews Group/Boston Herald/Getty

MediaNews Group/Boston Herald/Getty

When asked during a June 2011 appearance onInnerviewsabout how the birth of his son transformed his life, Clay replied candidly, “I’m obviously used to only thinking about myself, and now I can’t do that.”

“I have to make sure that I’m well aware of how my actions affect not just myself but my son and even beyond that,” the “Suspicious Mind” artist explained. “I went and bought a clean diesel after I had a child because I thought I needed to protect the earth now all of a sudden. I didn’t care about that before.”

Clay noted that Parker’s arrival changed “most of” his decisions and “everything” he did. “I actually find myself being a little less selfish than I have been in the past because of it,” he added.

He has a famous uncle and aunt

Clay Aiken and David Foster during rehearsals in Vancouver for the David Foster Foundation charity fund raising gala.Christopher Morris/Corbis/Getty

Christopher Morris/Corbis/Getty

In addition to his parents, Parker has other musically talented relatives. His mother’s brother is fellow producerDavid Foster, who wedAmerican IdolalumKatharine McPheein June 2019, making Parker her nephew.

David spoke to AP Radioin April 2009 abouthis sister co-parenting a child with Clay. “She’s very close with Clay, they’re best friends,” he said (viaThe Register Citizen). “It made perfect sense to me that he’d want to have a child with his best friend.”

At the time, the “Best of Me” vocalist referred to Clay as a “spectacular father" and Jaymes as “a natural mother.”

Clay Aiken performs onstage during the “Ruben & Clay: Twenty Years-One Night” tour on January 24, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.Paras Griffin/Getty

Paras Griffin/Getty

Unlike fans across America, Parker wasn’t an instant fan of his dad’s singing.

“For some reason, I’m nervous to sing for him,” Clay told Popeaterin June 2010. “My son doesn’t like to listen to me sing, but he enjoys listening to other people sing.”

Parker has gotten more opportunities to see his father perform as he’s grown older: Clay reflected on the moments of his career his son has gotten to witness during an April 2023 interview withThe Kokomo Post.

“But the last time I was in concert, he was 4, so he’s actually never seen me in concert that he would remember,” Clay noted, referring to the decade-long break he took from touring. “So he’ll be at this one, and it’ll pretty much be his first time.”

However, there was no guarantee he’d pay attention, with Clay joking, “He’ll be on his phone on TikTok during the whole show.”

He’s not pursuing music

Clay Aiken attends the Broadway preview photo call for “Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant” on November 15, 2018 in New York City.Walter McBride/Getty

Walter McBride/Getty

While Clay toldE! Newsin May 2024 that Parker used to sing “all the time,” it wasn’t something that he was looking to pursue as a career.

Clay explained to the outlet, “He’s chosen a different path. He has something else he wants to do with his life. And I’m excited for him.”

However, if Parker were to change his mind, he would have plenty of musicians to turn to for advice.

“My son’s got a lot of not only music, butIdolin his veins,” Clay added, noting that his uncle David, aunt Katharine and fellowAmerican IdolalumRuben Studdardwere there for him.

Clay would still support him if he wanted to sign up for the reality singing competition today. He explained, “I mean, I think that’s what you’re supposed to do is support whatever they want to do.”

He appeared onCelebrity Family Feud

In an interview withE! Newsa few months later, Clay said that Parker’s appearance on the show was his “first time” in the spotlight after accomplishing his mission of “keeping himcompletely out of the public eye” as much as he could.

“I appreciate that he’s been able to have a normal — or as close to a normal — childhood, as he could,” he said.

source: people.com