Clay Aiken breaks the mold

Clay Aiken, the "American Idol" second-place winner whose singing career has taken him to unexpected heights, says it's the little things that are hard to get used to. For example, he can't go to the mall anymore.

"I don't think anyone can prepare themselves for the fame surrounding the 'American Idol,' " Aiken said by telephone from Dallas. "It was impossible to know what was going to happen once I got onto 'Idol.' I've gotten used to people staring at me, but I can't go out by myself. I can't go shopping at the mall because I'll get mobbed. So, in a sense, it's hard to be myself.

"But I'm not complaining. I really love what I'm doing, and I am getting used to stardom."

One of the perks of his job is being able to do things for his family, he said. "I was able to pay off my mother's house. And I bought my brother the car he wanted to have. I'm making a lot more than I would as an educator."

Aiken said he actually hadn't planned to try out for "American Idol." He had another reality show in his sights. "I did 'American Idol' because someone begged me to do it. I thought it was a long shot. I wanted to do another reality show, 'The Amazing Race,' but the person begged and begged me to go on.

"I did, and here I am."

"American Idol" is, of course, Fox TV's reality game show that auditions singers in search of a superstar. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the program features performers from all over the country who sing on live TV before three judges (and viewers at home who vote by calling a toll-free number or text messaging), hoping to score a recording contract. (The three judges are singer Paula Abdul, producer Randy Jackson and brutally honest recording-industry executive Simon Cowell.)

To get on the show, singers audition in cities across the nation. Those who are called back proceed to a second audition in California before the three judges, who narrow the field to four groups of eight. These 32 singers perform on the show, and viewers vote for two finalists from each group. Then the three judges each choose one finalist from a pool of 12 "wild-card" candidates, and viewers select one more. Those four join the eight previously selected contestants for the finals. Then it's up to viewers, who vote to eliminate one candidate each week until only the new "American Idol" remains.