Fans Name Clay Aiken Favorite American Idol-Vet-Turned-Broadway Star

With the tenth season of TV’s top rated series American Idol ready to kick off on January 19, Broadway.com asked readers to vote for their favorite Idol veteran who went on to appear on the Broadway stage. The votes are in, and it looks like the Claymates were out in full force! Season two runner-up Clay Aiken landed in first place with a strong 60% of votes. Aiken made his Broadway debut in 2008 in the Tony-winning musical Spamalot as Sir Robin.

Second place went to season four veteran Constantine Maroulis with 24% of votes. The rocker joined the cast of The Wedding Singer during its run in 2006 and then went on to score a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for Rock of Ages in 2009. (Fans even voted him Broadway.com Star of the Year!) Maroulis is currently on the road with the show’s national tour.

Landing in third place with 10% of votes is season five champ Taylor Hicks. The soul singer flew into Grease as the Teen Angel in 2008.

Thanks for voting!