Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard give American Idol ... “I think it was hard to have that kind of competitive spirit in the way that they had that set up,” Studdard explains.

According to the internet, Clay Aiken needs to mind his own business ... he suddenly asked, “By the way, did Shawn Mendes come out today?” “Have you seen this video on his Instagram?

Clay Aiken is warming up for another run for office ... I'll be rooting for him every step of the way." ...