Tuesday, 27 May 2003
|
size : 158 K
2902 views
n e w |
size : 75 K
1869 views
n e w |
size : 110 K
2440 views
n e w |
|
NEW YORK -- American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken took the "Today" show by storm on Monday, wowing a crowd of screaming fans who braved a downpour for a glimpse of their favorites.
"It's like a monsoon. Poor Clay is worried about his hair," Katie Couric joked as she tousled Aiken's slightly less spikier than usual 'do.
Aiken helped Couric introduce "Roooooooooooooobin" Studdard, as the fans have come to call him.
Aiken beamed appreciatively from the sidelines as his "Idol" pal crooned his now-famous renditions of "Flying Without Wings" and "Superstar." Then the two teamed for a patriotic Memorial Day duet, "God Bless the U.S.A."
Instant stardom, said the soft-spoken Studdard, has meant "going from place to place and not getting enough sleep. But it's all good. ... I'm having a great time."
Studdard, 24, of Birmingham, Ala., edged out Aiken, 24, of Raleigh, N.C., by only 130,000 of 24 million votes cast by telephone. The final show of the competition, aired last Wednesday night on Fox TV, drew an estimated 33.7 million viewers. Both got record contracts.
Studdard said Monday that he hopes to sing "Love, Love, Love," a song by his own idol, Donny Hathaway, on his upcoming album.
As to his friendly rivalry with Aiken, Studdard said: "We keep each other on our P's and Q's." Although the "Idol" competition is over, "It's going to be the same thing _ only with record sales."
|
