Clay Aiken doing it his "Way" with new album

By Chuck Taylor

NEW YORK (Billboard) - During its six previous seasons, TV juggernaut "American Idol" has launched countless music careers -- but the caveat is maintaining staying power.

Season-two runner-up continues to beat the odds. He is gearing up for the May 6 release of "On My Way Here" (RCA), his first album of original material since his 2003 double-platinum debut, "Measure of a Man."

In between, he released the platinum-certified "Merry Christmas With Love" in 2004, and the gold-certified covers album "A Thousand Different Ways" in 2006.

In May, he'll wrap a five-month Broadway stint in the Tony Award-lauded musical comedy "Spamalot."

On the new album, Aiken worked with Grammy Award-winning British producer Kipper (Sting, Chris Botti). The singer talks about the road ahead and his journey to this point.

1. YOU CALL "ON MY WAY HERE" A THEMATIC REFLECTION ON LIFE

LESSONS, A SORT OF ROAD MAP OF YOUR LAST FIVE YEARS. WHAT DO

YOU HOPE LISTENERS WILL TAKE FROM THE COLLECTION?