‘American Idol’ Star Clay’s Painful Family Secret

Star magazine spoke with pals of Clay Aiken’s father Vernon Grissom, who hasn’t spoken to his son in nearly 10 years. “They haven’t talked since Clay’s 15th birthday in 1993, and I know it just tears Vernon up inside,” revealed an insider. The source of the pain was when Grissom and Clay’s mom, Faye, went through a difficult divorce when their son was just 3. “We believe Faye’s bitterness about their split led her to poison Clay’s mind about Vernon,” said a friend.