Clay Aiken returns with new holiday album out Nov. 22 after over a decade

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Clay Aiken is making a comeback with a fresh rendition of the Bing Crosby classic, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” — the lead single from his upcoming Christmas album, Christmas Bells are Ringing, set to release on Nov. 22. This marks Aiken’s first major return to the music scene in over a decade.

Originally written in 1962 by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” continues to carry a timeless, yet especially relevant message today. Aiken reflects, “The whole American political climate over the past few years hasn’t really given us much in the way of hope or optimism. As much as I wanted to believe I might be able to make some positive change in that world, I’ve realized that music often does a better job of that.”

Aiken rose to fame as the runner-up on season two of American Idol in 2003. His debut single, “This Is the Night,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and his first album, Measure of a Man, was certified triple platinum. Over the years, he sold millions of albums, embarked on national tours, starred on Broadway and made his mark as both a philanthropist and a political figure.

Christmas Bells are Ringing is Aiken’s first studio album in over a decade, following a hiatus that included a run for Congress in North Carolina and time spent raising his now-teenage son. The album marks a return to the holiday music that helped establish his name in 2004, when his debut holiday album Merry Christmas With Love became the best-selling holiday album of the year, selling nearly 300,000 copies in its first week and earning him three Billboard Music Awards.

The new album features Aiken’s fresh takes on holiday classics like Nat King Cole’s “Caroling, Caroling” and Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,” along with a lush reimagining of the Carpenters’ “Merry Christmas, Darling.” It also includes a standout rendition of “Pure Imagination,” reinterpreted as a festive soundtrack to the holiday season, bridging nostalgia with Aiken’s signature style.

Christmas Bells are Ringing Tracklist:

1. Merry Christmas, Darling
2. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
3. Caroling, Caroling
4. Do You Hear What I Hear?
5. Pure Imagination
6. Ave Maria
7. All Year Long
8. Wonderful Christmastime
9. Magic Moments
10. On This Silent Night

Presave Christmas Bells are Ringing now.

Keep up with Clay Aiken: Instagram // Spotify // X // Facebook // Website

Clare Gehlich
Clare Gehlich
Clare is a recent Stony Brook University graduate, holding a BA in Journalism. She was a journalism intern at Melodic for the spring 2024 semester and currently serves as the album coordinator and is a freelance writer for the magazine.

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