Becoming ... Clay Aiken

See how the singer went from crooning in his living room to filling stadiums. By Serena Kappes

15 of 16

THEN & NOW

"I looked like Opie," says Aiken of his appearance at his American Idol audition (left, in Atlanta in 2002). "I definitely look different now," admits the 6'1" singer (right, in 2004), who traded glasses for contacts and flat-irons his hair. "Sometimes I'll look in the mirror when I'm doing it and think about how much has changed."