“American Idol” season 2 winner Ruben Studdard is opening up about which members of his “Idol” family he’s still close with. “We still have a Season 2, Top 3 [chat], that we text each other every other day,” the singer revealed to Parade. That would include runner-up Clay Aiken and finalist Kimberley Locke.
“I think that it is probably different for people to see people that competed with one another have a relationship or a friendship, and I think that’s what is interesting,” Studdard shared. “But we are family. Especially the people that were on my season, we built [a] bond with each other.”
Studdard and Aiken are particularly close, having toured together in recent years, as well as having appeared on “The Masked Singer” season 11. The singers also shared a Broadway stage in 2018 for “Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show.”
Studdard & Aiken Truly Consider Each Other Family
GettyAccording to Studdard, he and his “Idol” pal Aiken are truly part of one another’s families. “His son [Parker, 17] calls me Uncle Ruben, and my son [Olivier, 5] calls him Uncle Clay,” the singer explained. “I mean, we’re family. So, just when you see us on the road together, just know we definitely built a familiar relationship early on.”
Even though many years have passed since the pair competed against one another on “Idol” in 2003, it seems the bonding experience was strong enough to foster long lasting friendships. “We lived with each other for months, you know?” Studdard said.
In 2024 Aiken told the Minnesota Star Tribune that he was “intimidated” when he first met Studdard because of his immense talent, but that he liked him from the start. “My first impression of him as a person is the same as it is today: He’ll talk to anybody, can talk to anybody, he is the most sociable, friendly,” he shared.
Studdard Has Talked With Kelly Clarkson & Ryan Seacrest
During his chat with Parade, Studdard said that he’s recently spoken with both Kelly Clarkson and Ryan Seacrest.
“I talked to Kelly the last time I was on her show, which was over the holidays. And, I spoke with Ryan when I was recording my last album,” he explained, noting that he recorded the album in Seacrest’s hometown.
“I got to a restaurant, and his picture was everywhere. I said, ‘I’m going to have to call him,’ and so I called him, and we had a laugh about that,” Studdard shared.
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