BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken will take the stage at the Musikfest Café in Bethlehem next year.
ArtsQuest said Aiken, a multi-platinum recording artist, will perform at the Musikfest Café on March 4.
Aiken, who had a breakout run on the second season of American Idol, last performed at the Musikfest Cafe in 2012.
On March 4, he’ll return for an intimate performance featuring new music and a catalog of fan favorites, ArtsQuest said in a news release.
Tickets can be purchased at ArtsQuest’s website.
“Clay Aiken has a special history with our audiences, so we’re thrilled to welcome him back to Bethlehem,” said Patrick Brogan, Chief Programming Officer at ArtsQuest.
“From those unforgettable Musikfest appearances more than 20 years ago to his performances at the Musikfest Café, Clay has built a lasting connection with fans here in the Lehigh Valley. To have him return as he begins this exciting new chapter in his music career makes this show particularly special.”
He headlined Musikfest in 2004 and 2005.
ArtsQuest said nearly 40 million viewers watched the American Idol season finale.
Aiken’s debut single, “This Is the Night,” entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1, while his debut album, Measure of a Man, debuted atop the Billboard 200 and went multi-platinum, ArtsQuest said.
ArtsQuest said “Invisible” became another signature hit, and his chart-topping Merry Christmas with Love established Aiken as a major presence in holiday music.
He sold more than six million albums worldwide in the first seven years of his recording career, ArtsQuest said in the news release.
ArtsQuest said Aiken appeared in Monty Python’s Spamalot and reunited with fellow American Idol finalist Ruben Studdard in 2018 for the Broadway production Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show.
They reunited again in 2023 for a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their American Idol season and competed together as The Beets on Fox’s The Masked Singer in 2024, ArtsQuest said.
ArtsQuest said Aiken has devoted much of his career to advocating for children with disabilities. He co-founded the National Inclusion Project in 2003 to help children with disabilities participate in camps, after-school programs, and community activities, according to the news release.
He also served for a decade as a UNICEF ambassador, advocating internationally for children’s education and protection, according to ArtsQuest.