Clay Speaks

"In this arena, I don’t set goals because it’s part of my realist nature. But there are things I want to do. I always wanted to sing on the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and I’m doing it! I want to have a second album."

"I don’t think I’m the best singer ever. I don’t think I’m better than all 32 of those people who sang. I still don’t. Kim Locke is going to do well. She’s already been signed to Curb Records and she has an album coming out I think the same day as Ruben’s. Her first single is better than mine."

"Actually, I don’t hate cats, I’m just kind of afraid of them."

"I don’t think I gave anybody a reason to bully me. The thing about bullies is if you show them that you’re intimidated and you’re upset by them, they’re gonna keep doing it. I’d be, “Forget you, then” and walk away. I don’t let things get under my skin as much as some people do."

"...kids without disabilities learn a lot from kids with disabilities. There are so many things that are so much bigger than what to wear that day. I don’t feel sorry for children with disabilities. I feel excited for them for the opportunities that they do have."

On being a role model:
"You can be a good one or a bad one. I got to this point and it’s a high profile job and on top of that, there are the rigors and pressures of being in the public eye all the time. And my absolute priority, more than having a good song, is to set a good example. I accept it as a responsibility."

On living in Los Angeles:

"The traffic is horrible. The people can be kinda nuts. The food has avocado on it everywhere you go. I don’t dislike L.A. The weather is nice, but it’s always the same. I love seasons. I like snow. I like the leaves to change color. If I lived in Raleigh I’d get all of that in the same yard."

On lady friends:

"You don’t have to be either dating or not friends. There can be a middle ground and that’s what a platonic relationship is. I think platonic relationships can be closer than dating relationships sometimes. Dating relationships end and platonic relationships are going to be there no matter what."

The Biggest Lesson he's learned from American Idol:

"Perseverance. I got cut twice. I got cut in Charlotte. I didn’t have to go to Atlanta to audition. I could have said, “I’m not cut out for this.” But I said, “I think I’m better than that, I can go try again.” So I went to Atlanta and I made it through. Then I got cut the first time around. I could have told them I didn’t want to come back for the Wild Card show but I did and look how far I got."

On his fame

"There are many days where I’m willing to do it, to trade places with my friends who are teaching back in North Carolina. There are days where I’m ready to give it up."

"I think there's a difference between appearance and image. An image is not how you look. It's what you do. It's what you portray. Your personality, the example you set, and that's huge for me."

"It's a pop-flavored album. I think there's a lot of people out there who may not be the best influence for kids. I wouldn't want my kids listening to some of the stuff out there. None of the stuff on the album is like that."

"The greatest glory never comes from falling, but from rising each time you fall."

"It's important that I make a difference in some way. It's not necessarily how I make a difference, but I want to make sure that I do."

"What comes out of this is what God wants to happen."

"I didn't get cut tonight; I just didn't win."

From 'Rolling Stone' Magazine: "I'm really not that special. Really, I'm not. It was just a T.V show.

"It's not the money. It's not the fame. It's the influence."

"It's important that I make a difference in some way. If it's performing and touching someone that way, that's great; if it's being a teacher and helping some kid understand something, that's even better..."

"They told us to sing a song by our idol. Well, my mother's really my idol, so I'm gonna sing her favorite song for me to sing: "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers."

"Half my butt is mac & cheese and the other half is Krispy Kreme..."

"Can I be the next bachelor?" "I never thought I'd be an object of affection. That's the biggest surprise of the whole experience!"

"Three months ago I was studying for exams and now I'm flying home on a private jet with a bathroom nicer than the one in my house!"

Ruben used to say to me, 'Look at all these panties they're throwing you onstage. You could get any girl in this room!' But I'm not interested in getting any girl in the room—I want to find one that I'm serious about. I respect women much more than that. I'm like, 'You know what? It's okay for musicians not to be womanizers.'" [CosmoGirl, 12/03-1/04

"He belongs to the world." - Faye Parker (Mom), to People magazine

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