Singer Clay Aiken [ tickets ], who has parlayed his runner-up status in the 2003 season of the Fox-TV talent show "American Idol" into a thriving career, is lining up dates for The Joyful Noise Tour, a Christmas-themed trek on which he will be backed by an orchestra.

Eight December holiday shows were confirmed at press time, and several more dates are in the works. Tickets for some shows have hit the market, and others will roll out in the coming days. Details are in the itinerary below.

Aiken, who has been on the road for much of the year, currently is wrapping up a tour that focuses on the U.S. fair circuit. He embarked on a co-headlining run with 2002 "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson earlier this year.

The Aiken memoir "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life" will be released by Random House on Nov. 16. According to the publisher, the book tells how faith was integral to Aiken's rise from an aspiring teacher to stardom on "American Idol."

Aiken will make many television appearances to tout the book, including Nov. 15 on CNN's "Larry King Live," Nov. 17 on ABC's "Live with Regis and Kelly," Nov. 17 on NBC's "Today" and Dec. 6 on NBC's "The Tonight Show." He'll also appear as a presenter on the Nov. 15 American Music Awards, according to his website.

Last October, Aiken offered up his debut album, "Measure of a Man." The set--which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart--spawned 2003's top-selling single, "This Is the Night," as well as the hit "The Way."