Clay Aiken is Heading to the White House

Pop-singer and American Idol runner-up, Clay Aiken is in line to be named to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, the White House revealed this week.

According to the Associated Press, a White House press release said, "President George W. Bush intends to make the appointment."

Since his second place finish on American Idol, Aiken has released two albums, 2003's Measure of a Man and 2004's Merry Christmas with Love. But before finding fame on American Idol, Aiken studied special education at college and worked as a YMCA counselor.

Despite his success in the music industry, Aiken hasn't strayed far from his roots. He created the Bubel/Aiken Foundation in 2003, an organization that according to the singer's official MySpace, "Promotes and funds educational and recreational programs for children with special needs." He is also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

Aiken's next release, A Thousand Different Ways, is due to hit stores Sept. 19. The album is a collection of cover songs from the '70s, '80s and '90s and features four new songs.