Former "American Idol" singer Clay Aiken. [File photo]

After years in closet, former "American Idol" singer Clay Aiken, 29, will come out, according to media reports Wednesday.

Aiken is to admit he is a gay man to the People magazine set to run on its Website Wednesday, according to media reports.

Celebrity site Perezhilton.com on Tuesday published a photo of the cover of People magazine's upcoming issue. The cover features Aiken cradling his new son, Parker Foster Aiken, in his arms.

The caption reads "Yes, I'm Gay," and underneath runs a quote from Aiken: "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things."

In August this year, Aiken's friend, music producer Jaymes Foster, gave birth to the baby whom is believed bo be fathered by Aiken.

Aiken became famous during 2003 TV talent show "American Idol." As the runner-up, he continued to move to gain fame and established a solid singing career on his own. Of late, he works on Broadway in "Monty Python's SPAMALOT."

For years, Aiken has dodged questions on his sexual orientation despite persistent rumors on his homosexuality. Sexuality is nobody's business but his own, he used to say emphatically.

He once answered back to ABC's Diane Sawyer on his sexuality issue in 2006. It was a "really rude" question, he said. When interviewed by People magazine on the same issue, his answer was no more than saying that readers "are going to believe what they want."

(Xinhua/Agencies September 25, 2008)