“American Idol ”Alum Clay Aiken Makes Rare Comments About Life as a Dad to Look-Alike Son Parker, 16: ‘We Did a Good Job’

“He’s been able to have a normal — or as close to a normal — childhood,” Clay, 45, said of his son in a new interview

Clay Aiken is getting candid about being a dad.

The American Idol runner-up, 45, discussed life as a parent to his 16-year-old son, Parker Foster Aiken, as he opened up about his decision to keep him out of the public eye over the years in a new interview with E! News.

“I'm just tough in general,” Clay said of his parenting style with Parker, whom he shares with his friend Jaymes Foster. “I find that I appreciate criticism. I appreciate people pointing out things that I can do better.”

The singer said he is proud of protecting his son from the spotlight. 

“We did a very good job, I think, for 16 years, keeping him completely out of the public eye,” he continued. “I wanted him to be able to grow up as normally as he could.”

Related: All About Clay Aiken's Son Parker Foster Aiken

Clay and Jaymes, who is a music producer and the sister of the producer David Foster, welcomed Parker in August 2008 after she got pregnant through in vitro fertilization. The pair were not romantically linked however they agreed to raise their son together. 

Clay said the family made one exception for Parker to step into the spotlight when he appeared on Celebrity Family Feud in August. In the episode, Clay introduced Parker and his family members to host Steve Harvey, saying, "This is my son Parker making his TV debut.”

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Speaking of his son’s appearance on the gameshow, he told E! News, “That was his first time. I appreciate that he's been able to have a normal — or as close to a normal — childhood, as he could.”

Parker appeared in the Aug. 6 episode of Celebrity Family Feud as the family played against his uncle David, 75, and his wife, fellow American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee Foster. 

Related: Clay Aiken's Son Parker, 15, Looks All Grown Up — and Just Like His Dad — In His Television Debut on Celebrity Family Feud

Unlike his musical family, Clay said in his latest interview that he believes his son will steer away from music as a career. 

“He’s had too much music in his life,” the singer told E! News. “He knows what he wants to do. He's going to go a very different way. I'm proud of him. I'm thrilled for him. He can sing, though, he just doesn't want to.”