American Idol Season 2 Runner-up Clay Aiken has admitted in an interview with People Magazine that he is gay. No surprise there, isn’t it already obvious! Anyway, there was no surprise but there was confirmation from the man(?) himself of what his sexual preference is and of course a confirmation of what is already as obvious as saying Obama is Black or Osama is Muslim. In case you lived on a cave and wondering why Clay Aiken has a son when he just admitted he is gay. Well, Clay Aiken had his son conceived via artificial insemination with his 50-year-old “best friend.” And with the birth of his son he named Parker Foster, comes the motivation to spill the truth that has been hounding him throughout his career. “I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things,” says Clay Aiken.

Before admitting he is gay, Clay Aiken would deny that he is gay and even snapped in an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America telling her that she was “really rude” to grill him about his sexuality. Well, look who has the last laugh. O mga Philippine Showbiz closet queens, go emulate Clay Aiken! You can’t hide from the TRUTH!

American Idol Season 7 finalist Ramiele Malubay and semi-finalist (?) Danny Noriega will be in Manila, Philippines on December 20 and 21 for Ogie Alcasid’s Birthday Concert at the Aliw Theater. Reportedly, it is not actually just a birthday concert for Ogie Alcasid but a back to back concert with Ramiele Malubay that’s why the show’s title is ” Ogie Sings With the Idols” and apart from Ramiele Malubay, Danny Noriega will also be a guest performer and incidentally Danny is Ramiele’s BFF. Also performing is the very first Pinoy Idol, Gretchen Espina and Pinoy Idol finalist Robby Navarro.

Ramiele Malubay, reportedly, aside from the concert, will be signing a record deal with a local record company.

Gretchen Espina was voted as the very first Pinoy Idol in the star-studded finale night of Pinoy Idol last night at the SMX (SM Mall of Asia Convention Complex). Gretchen Espina, 20, from Biliran Province in the Samar-Leyte Region, and daughter of the Governor of Biliran Province, bested 21-year-old Jayann Bautista of Pampanga in the final two to win the first ever Pinoy Idol. The Pinoy Idol finale night started with a three-way battle for the Idol title with Ram Chaves of Cagayan De Oro City eventually placing third.

Jayann Bautista and Gretchen Espina each sang their own interpretation of the Ogie Alcasid composition “To You,” ala American Idol’s memorable final songs like “A Moment Like This,” ( Kelly Clarkson), “I Believe,” (Fantasia), among other greats. Let’s just wait and see if the Gretchen Espina final song “To You” will attain great popularity in the Philippines. In fairness to Gretchen Espina, she i think of the performers on Saturday were the best and it’s true that she was a revelation that night. I actually like her version of “For Your Eyes Only,” she sang it with feelings, not just with hysterics and histrionics. (mind you, lol)

The prizes pala for the first Pinoy Idol were amazingly huge in Philippine standards (which Gretchen Espina should just donate to her province mates, she does not really need some of those) with 1 million in cash from SM Supermall, a recording contract from Sony BMG, a management contract from GMA Artist Center, a brand new car courtesy of Mitsubishi, and a condo unit in New Manila courtesy of Avida Towers.

American Idol Season 7 winner David Cook announced in an interview with a Canadian radio station, ChumFM, that he is coming to Manila to do a concert on January 27, 2009, his first show after American Idol. An American Idol winner and finalist is obligated by contract to tour with the rest around the United States and Canada. David Cook announced it himself on CHUMFM saying, “We just booked my first show, post-‘Idol,’ Jan. 27 in the Philippines … a one-off show and then we start the tour in the States …”.

David Cook is hugely popular in the Philippines because his songs, the Mariah Carey cover “Always Be My Baby” topped the chart for weeks in Manila and so does his other Idol finale hit, “Time Of My Life.”

Listen to the entire David Cook interview by ChumFM below:

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Meanwhile, the American Idol Season 8 auditions have already commenced and is still on-going, for the show’s airing date first week of January.

Ace Young, for those who don’t know who is Ace Young, was on American Idol a couple of seasons ago. Ace Young shirtless photos caused some scandal among fans who wanted it to be removed in all of the internet (some task there, lol)..Well, Ace Young is back and strips on video for an advocacy campaign though for strip2clothe.com saying “With your help we can help keep clothes on kids backs across the country!”