Ruben Studdard has said he is "best of friends" with old American Idol sparring partner Clay Aiken despite the apparent rivalry between the pair.

"Clay and I have been friends from day one," Ruben told the Charlotte Observer today. "Before we made the top 30 we became friends. That hasn't changed at all. Not at all."

He said the press created much of the fuss: "It puts a strain on you guys to figure out how good of friends we are."

Studdard's album, 'soluful', debuted at the top of the Billboard album charts on release last December.