Clay Aiken Reflects On Losing '50 Percent' Of His Fans After Coming Out In 2008

"We are in a very different time," said the "American Idol" veteran, who unveiled his first studio album in 12 years this fall.

As he returns to music after a 12-year hiatus, Clay Aiken is looking back on his path to living as his true self.

A North Carolina native, Aiken rose to prominence on the second season of “American Idol” in 2003. Though he finished in second place behind Ruben Studdard, he nonetheless won widespread acclaim for his debut album, “Measure of a Man,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Speaking to People in an interview published last week, however, Aiken recalled how that initial flush of success came to an abrupt halt when he came out as gay. He publicly addressed his sexuality in a People cover story published about a month after welcoming his son, Parker, in 2008.

“Back then it was a big deal,” he told People. “We are in a very different time. I lost maybe 50 percent of the fan base.”

Aiken said he immediately noticed the impact by observing the ticket sales for “Spamalot,” the Broadway musical in which he was appearing at the time of his coming-out.