The three "American Idols" will appear together on a FOX holiday special later this month, the show's most famous second-place finisher is striking out on his own.

Clay Aiken, who has outsold all of his "Idol" compatriots, will star in an NBC holiday special that also features musical forebear Barry Manilow and "Will & Grace" star Megan Mullally. "A Clay Aiken Christmas" is scheduled to air Wednesday, Dec. 8.

The hour-long special will feature Aiken singing Yuletide classics along with Manilow, gospel star Yolanda Adams and Mullally, who has starred in several Broadway musicals and released two CDs with the band Supreme Music Program.

The show follows on the heels of Aiken's holiday album, "Merry Christmas with Love," and an autobiography, "Learning to Sing," both scheduled for release this week. Aiken is also hitting the road in support of the album, beginning Sunday (Nov. 21) in Pasadena, Calif.

Aiken famously lost a very closely contested final vote in season two of "American Idol" to Ruben Studdard. Since the show, however, he's gone on to greater commercial success than any of the show's winners. His debut album, "Measure of a Man," has sold 2.6 million copies.

The three "Idol" winners -- Kelly Clarkson, Studdard and Fantasia Barrino -- will appear in a FOX special set for Wednesday, Nov. 24.