Director's Cut

Clay Aiken's audition for American Idol, as broadcast six years ago (January 28, 2003), left a few things out... e.g., his initial audition in Charlotte ("Somewhere Over the Rainbow") and the song he nervously sang for the screening producers in Atlanta (the theme from "Perfect Strangers").

There were also bits of his Atlanta audition song ("Always and Forever") that were left on the cutting room floor (fortunately picked up by various news clips about him), such as two lines from the song that showcased Clay's beautiful lower-register range.

Here is the complete story of Clay Aiken's March through Atlanta: