#4: Clay Aiken in "American Idol"
There have been a fair number of Christians on the most popular (and
blasphemously named) show in America, including Mandisa, Melinda
Doolittle, and Chris Sligh. However, the original Christian "Idol" was
Clay Aiken, Season Two's runner-up and breakout star. An awkward, shy
mama's boy from North Carolina, Clay was instantly relatable with
viewers who loved his genuine talent and underdog story. He often
mentioned his devout Christian faith, saying he believed the show was
something God planned for him, and that he depended on his religion to
help him make crucial choices about his career.
On his debut
album, "Measure of a Man," he refused to include any song that had
sexual lyrics, embracing a more wholesome sound. The decision paid off,
and the album went multi-platinum. Clay's sexuality has been a hot
topic in the media, but he refuses to discuss it. When asked about it
in a TV interview, he said only, "[Jesus] loves everybody. Muslim,
Jewish, Christian, gay, straight, black, white, everybody."