AMERICAN IDOL - AMERICAN IDOL STAR CLAY AIKEN CONFIRMS HOMOSEXUALITY

AMERICAN IDOL STAR CLAY AIKEN CONFIRMS HOMOSEXUALITY

After years of dodging speculation about his sexuality, American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken has revealed that he is gay.

Aiken finished behind Ruben Studdard in the 2003 series of the US talent show, but is the most successful male artist in the programme's history, having sold more than a million albums.

He has continually brushed away media questions regarding his sexual orientation but in a new interview with People magazine has finally confirmed he is gay.

Aiken, 29, appears on the cover of the magazine with his infant son Parker Foster and the headline: "Yes, I'm Gay."

The magazine also quotes the singer as saying: "I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things."

Parker Foster's mother is Jaymes Foster, Aiken's friend and a producer of his last three albums.

In an interview with the Associated Press news agency two years ago, Aiken had said: "I don't really feel like I have anybody to answer to but myself and God and the people I love."

He recently released his fifth album On My Way Here and earlier this year starred as Sir Robin in the Broadway run of Spamalot.