'Yes, I'm gay' Parker

Well, duh. But when Clay Aiken actually told People magazine that he was indeed gay, searches for the pop star shot skyward.

What made Aiken finally come out?

His son inspired the assertion: "I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things." Score one for son Parker, known in the hip Web lexicon as Aiken's "gayby."

So what has the reaction been to this not-so-startling bombshell?

Simon Cowell was sarcastic, snarky and generally true to form. But supportive, in his own way.

Not everyone felt the same, like many of the Claymates, the often suburban, Southern and/or conservative fans who make up the ClayNation. This group of fans is — what's the phrase? — freaking out about the news. (Those nicknames are from them, by the way.)

Here's hoping the dust settles soon.

Want more Clay Aiken? Here's a roundup of some of his greatest hits in search since he walked onto the "American Idol" stage:

His biggest spat: Afteran initial and infamous fight, this talk show host recently had this to say about his becoming a father.

His foot, an airplane and the FBI: When it comes to searches about Aiken, this phrase sounds like a punch line, but no, it's real.

His baby mama: This 50-year-old became an Internet phenom when it was announced she was carrying Aiken's baby, thanks to artificial insemination. Just who is she, anyway?

The next Aiken? Blogs have speculated about the sexuality of this new father almost as much as Clay. No wonder they surface in search together.