by People Editorial Guidelines – People

  • Clay Aiken exclusively reveals to PEOPLE that his 16-year-old son Parker has been training to become a pilot
  • Parker has already done his first solo flight and is preparing for his second, which will take him across the state by himself
  • The American Idol finalist admits that his son ‘s passion stresses him out, but he’s still proud of his accomplishments

Though his family consists of many musicians, Clay
Aiken‘s son
Parker is not looking to follow in his
footsteps.

Parker, whom Aiken shares with his longtime friend Jaymes Foster, the sister
of producer and composer David Foster,
has much higher aspirations — altitude-wise, at least.

Exclusively speaking with PEOPLE ahead of the re-release of his debut single
“Measure of a Man (Father’s Day Version),” Aiken reveals for the first time
that Parker, 16, is training to become a pilot.

“He’s known what he wants to do for, gosh, his whole life,” the American
Idol finalist tells PEOPLE. “It was a little weird to me because I didn’t
know what I wanted to do — I still don’t.”

Parker Aiken poses next to a plane as he trains to become a pilot.

Aiken adds that Parker has “never changed his mind” on his future career path
and has taken some impressive steps toward officially becoming a licensed
pilot.

“He just went and did his first solo flight two weeks ago, so a big milestone
there,” the proud dad shares. “Now we’re planning on the next one, which I’ll
need even more Xanax for.”

The “Invisible” singer notes that while his son’s first solo flight involved
him taking laps around the airport, the next one will involve him flying
across the state solo.

“I’m not going to be able to see the plane,” Aiken explains. “You’re gonna
have to sedate me. Just call an anesthesiologist because I don’t have the
nerves for that.”

Clay Aiken speaks with PEOPLE in an exclusive interview.

While Parker’s mom, Jaymes, has flown with their son, Aiken has yet to join
him on a ride.

“His instructors all have said he’s better than the adults that they’ve
taught, but like I said, he’s been focused on it for years, and that’s what he
wants to do,” Aiken says. “I’m not worried about his skill level. I’m worried
about the plane. I told him, ‘When you are flying in a big plane, we can talk,
but I don’t do those JFK Jr. planes.'”

The musician adds that news of recent aviation disasters hasn’t helped his
anxiety regarding his son’s passion.

“My blood pressure broke the cuff because that was in the news around this
time,” Aiken says. “He knows what he’s doing. His idol is [pilot] Sully
Sullenberger, and he wants to be as good as him. And that’s what he puts his
energy into, and I think he is.”

Clay Aiken, Parker Aiken and Jaymes Foster on ‘Family Feud.’.

Aiken and Foster kept Parker’s childhood private after initially sharing his
first photo on the cover of PEOPLE in 2008. But since he turned 16, they have
opted to share more of him publicly, including an appearance on Family Feud
in 2024.

“He got to the age where his mom and I realized, you know what, 16 seems about
the age, the milestone birthday where if he wants to do Family Feud , then
we’ll let him do it,” Aiken explains, noting that Parker doesn’t have a
problem with being more public and even urged his dad to share more about his
passion for becoming a pilot.

Clay Aiken and Parker Aiken attend the opening night of BOOP, the musical.

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As Father’s Day approaches, Aiken is preparing to re-release his debut single
22 years later, adding a special twist. “Measure of a Man (Father’s Day
Version)” takes the track, tweaking the lyrics to be from the perspective of a
dad, specifically a dad to a teenager.

“If I get more than a grunt some days, we’re in good shape,” Aiken quips. “I
force him to come in my room in the morning before he goes to school now
because I don’t get to drive him in anymore. He drives himself. I force him,
he has to come in my room and talk to me before he goes to school because
otherwise he probably wouldn’t talk to me all day.”

He adds, “I think, especially, a lot of fathers and sons have that in this
period of development and I realized that I could kind of tweak the lyrics of
the song and talk about how sometimes it’s kind of difficult to put into words
your emotions and how sometimes I may not be able to say it, but it doesn’t
mean I don’t love you.”

“Measure of a Man (Father’s Day Version)” is available on Friday, June 13.

Access the full story at its original location at People.