North Carolina's Clay Aiken returns to 'American Idol' stage for season finale
North Carolina native and former Idol contestant Clay Aiken returns to the "American Idol" stage Monday night for the show's three-hour finale, 23 years after his unforgettable Season 2 run.
Aiken is also celebrating another milestone: releasing his first new single in 18 years, titled "Rewind."
"It's kind of cool to have it back," Aiken said. "It's a very surreal experience."
The performance is especially meaningful because Aiken's teenage son, Parker, will experience his dad releasing new music for the first time.
"He's not been alive when I had new music out," Aiken said. "So this is a whole new thing for him, too."
North Carolina will also be well represented during the finale. Aiken will duet with fellow Tar Heel and finalist Braden Rumfelt on "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," the same song Aiken performed during his 2003 Idol run.
"North Carolina is by far the most successful state on 'American Idol'," Aiken said, pointing to stars including Fantasia Barrino, Scotty McCreery, and Chris Daughtry.
The "American Idol" grand finale airs Monday at 8 p.m.
Aiken is also scheduled to perform in Las Vegas this July.
