Adam Lambert
Encyclopedia
Adam Mitchel Lambert is an American
singer, songwriter, and actor from San Diego
, California. In May 2009, he finished as the runner-up on the eighth season
of American Idol
. The Times
identified Lambert as the first openly gay
mainstream pop artist
to launch a career on a major label in the United States.
Lambert released his debut album, For Your Entertainment
, in November 2009, via RCA Records
/19 Recordings
. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200
in December 2009, selling 198,000 copies in the United States in the first week. As of January 2011, it had sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide. In 2010, Lambert was nominated for the Grammy Award
for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
for "Whataya Want from Me
."
, Indiana
. He is the son of Leila, an interior design
er, and Eber Lambert, a program manager
for Novatel Wireless
. He has a younger brother, Neil.
Lambert's family moved to California shortly after his birth and he was raised in Rancho Peñasquitos
in northeastern San Diego. He attended Deer Canyon Elementary School, Mesa Verde Middle School
, where he was a winner in the Airband competition (featuring Michael Jackson
's "Thriller
"), and Mount Carmel High School (MCHS), where he was in theater, choir, and frequently performed vocals with the school's jazz band "MC Jazz". Some of his memorable MCHS performances included Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance
and "It's Only a Paper Moon" with MC Jazz.
His father is of "mostly Norwegian" descent and his mother is Jewish
; Lambert was raised in his mother's religion. He has performed in Hebrew
at Jewish events, singing songs such as "Shir LaShalom
" at a 2005 tribute concert to assassinated
Israel
i Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin
. Lambert attended Temple of the Arts in San Diego and has performed at the Kol Nidre
service on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur
. Lambert also performed in Jewish-themed The Ten Commandments: The Musical
as Joshua, performing the song "Is Anybody Listening?"
. Around age twelve, he was cast in a production of Fiddler on the Roof
and continued performing throughout his teenage years including Hello, Dolly!
, Chess
, Camelot
, The Music Man
, Grease
and played Captain Hook
in Peter Pan
. At age 19, Lambert left the U.S. to tour with Anita Mann Productions for ten months before returning to the U.S. to perform light opera in Orange County, California
. He was then cast in the European production of Hair
and U.S. theater productions of Brigadoon and 110 in the Shade
, before being cast in the role of Joshua in The Ten Commandments: The Musical
at the Kodak Theatre
alongside Val Kilmer
. Lambert was one of the few actors in the play that garnered a positive review. From December 2006 to May 2007, Lambert briefly moonlighted as the front man for underground rock band The Citizen Vein with Steve Sidelnyk, Tommy Victor
and Monte Pittman
. Beginning in 2004, he regularly performed at the Upright Cabaret and the Zodiac Show, which was co-created by Carmit Bachar
of the Pussycat Dolls
.
From 2005-2008 he performed in the ensemble, as well as understudy the role of Fiyero, in the national tour and Los Angeles productions of Wicked
.
Lambert auditioned for the eighth season
of American Idol
in San Francisco, California
. In a Rolling Stone
interview he said his decision to audition for the show came after a week at Burning Man
where he experimented with "certain funguses." He went on to say that "I had a psychedelic experience where I looked up at the clouds and went, 'Oh!' I realized that we all have our own power, and that whatever I wanted to do, I had to make happen."
During his initial audition, he sang "Rock With You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody
." Lambert had cited several musical influences, including Madonna
, Queen
, David Bowie
, Michael Jackson
, Aerosmith
, and Led Zeppelin
.
In the semifinals, Lambert was voted into the Top 13, joining fellow Group 2 performers Allison Iraheta
and Kris Allen
. Lambert and Allen became roommates in the Idol mansion, with Allen stating it was due to their neatness.
During Michael Jackson
week, he sang "Black or White" leading to praise from all four judges, with Paula Abdul
predicting that he would go on to the finals. The following week, Lambert sang a version of "Ring of Fire
". While Randy Jackson
, Kara DioGuardi
, and Abdul all liked his performance, Simon Cowell
called it "indulgent rubbish". On Motown night, Lambert sang an acoustic version of The Miracles
', "The Tracks of My Tears
". The judges all liked it, and Smokey Robinson
, the week's mentor and the original singer-songwriter, gave Lambert a standing ovation. For his Top 8 performance, Lambert sang the 2001 Michael Andrews
and Gary Jules
arrangement of "Mad World". Because the show had exceeded its time slot, only Cowell gave a critique, which he did by simply giving Lambert a standing ovation. During the results next night, the other judges agreed that a standing ovation was the best critique of Lambert's performance. For his second Top 7 performance, Lambert sang "If I Can't Have You
", delivering what DioGuardi described as his "most memorable performance", while Cowell described his vocals as "immaculate". Abdul was reduced to tears, with host Ryan Seacrest
joking that Lambert had melted her into a "pool of Abdul". In the Top 4, Lambert was the first to sing, performing "Whole Lotta Love
". Cowell commented, "that was one of my favorite performances...nobody can top that now", while Abdul, punning on the song's title, described Lambert's performance as "a whole lotta perfect".
Photos of Lambert romantically kissing another man surfaced while he was competing on American Idol. Initially shown and discussed by commentators on The O'Reilly Factor
, the panel agreed that the images would likely have no impact on the competition. Lambert confirmed that the photos were of him, stating he had nothing to hide and has always been open about his life. Mainstream media speculation centered on Lambert's sexuality; presuming he was gay
, he would be the first gay American Idol.Clay Aiken
, American Idol (season 2)
runner-up came out
as gay
in 2008. Will Young
, the 2002 winner of the inaugural Pop Idol
contests on which all the other Idol series
are based, came out as gay after he won. Much of the media focus regarded the readiness of American Idol voters for an openly gay winner. Asked by Rolling Stone
whether the speculation surrounding his sexual orientation impacted the final vote, Lambert laughed and said "probably". He confirmed that he was gay
in a Rolling Stone
cover story interview shortly after he was named the American Idol runner-up.
For the top three show, in which each of the three remaining contestants does a hometown visit and performance, Lambert sang both Michael Jackson
's "Black or White", and the Michael Andrews
/ Gary Jules
version of Tears for Fears
' "Mad World
" at his alma mater, Mt. Carmel High School
. Afterwards, San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders
declared May 8, 2009 "Adam Lambert Day."
On May 20, 2009, Lambert was announced as the runner-up for the eighth season of American Idol. Lambert performed a medley of "Beth
", "Detroit Rock City
", and "Rock and Roll All Nite
" with rock band Kiss
during the final episode. His version of the winning single "No Boundaries
" was later released on iTunes
alongside American Idol winner Kris Allen
's version. Before the results were announced, Allen and Lambert joined together with Queen
’s original guitarist Brian May
and drummer Roger Taylor
to perform the anthem "We Are the Champions
".
Upon winning, Allen said, "Adam deserved this." Explaining this remark later, Allen said that he thought Lambert deserved to win as much as he did, and that Lambert "was the most consistent person all year. He was seriously one of the most gifted performers that I've ever met."
The LA Times has ranked Lambert 5th in their list of the top 120 American Idol contestants, selected from seasons 1 to 9 of the show.
magazine confirmed his solo album was expected to be released in November 2009. Lambert stated that he would love to work with Slash
, stating "When I was working with Slash I felt at home." He also stated that his solo album would be eclectic, having a variety of sounds. Rock group Queen
, with whom Lambert performed on the season finale, were at one point rumored to be considering asking Lambert to be their new frontman
. Lambert was a guest on Larry King Live
(guest-hosted by Ryan Seacrest
) along with Kris Allen
, judge Paula Abdul
, and the rest of the top ten finalists. In that appearance, he stated that he planned to create a pop-rock
, multi-genre album fused with electronic
production. Lambert stuck to those intentions; the album he subsequently released conformed highly to his description of the album he planned to make.
Adam Lambert worked with producers Greg Wells
, Ryan Tedder
, Max Martin
, Sam Sparro
, RedOne
, Dr. Luke
, and Linda Perry
, among others, in the run-up to the release of his debut album, For Your Entertainment
. Aimee Mayo
stated on Twitter that she wrote at least two songs for Lambert, one co-written with Ryan Tedder and Chris Lindsey and, another with Ferras
, the latter of which was not included for selection. Lady Gaga
also reportedly wrote a song that they spent some time recording. On October 28, 2009, Lambert announced via Twitter that his lead single from his debut album would be "For Your Entertainment
", a song that was produced by Dr. Luke
.
Lambert was recruited to record the soundtrack "Time for Miracles
" for the disaster movie 2012
that was released on October 20, 2009 as a side project single. The song was lauded ahead of its release by Queen's guitarist, Brian May
, who described himself as being "completely blown away" upon hearing the track. The track "Time for Miracles" also appears on For Your Entertainment.
On June 19, 2009, Hi Fi Recordings
and Wilshire Records revealed that they would be releasing On With the Show, a compilation of songs Lambert had recorded prior to American Idol while working as a session musician
. The album's first single is "Want." Lambert later issued a statement through 19 Entertainment
stating, "Back in 2005 when I was a struggling artist, I was hired as a studio singer to lend my vocals to tracks written by someone else. I was broke at the time and this was my chance to make a few bucks, so I jumped at the opportunity to record for my first time in a professional studio. The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on."
Lambert won two awards in 2009: the Young Hollywood Award for Artist of the Year and the Teen Choice Award for Male Reality/Variety Star. Lambert participated in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009
with his fellow Top 10 contestants; the tour visited 50 cities in the United States and Canada from July 5 to September 15, 2009.
In November, Lambert performed "For Your Entertainment
" at the American Music Awards of 2009
. The performance showed Lambert kissing a male bassist, grinding a dancer's head against his pelvis, and grabbing the crotch of another. Lambert told Rolling Stone magazine, "Female performers have been doing this for years—pushing the envelope about sexuality—and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out. We're in 2009—it's time to take risks, be a little more brave, time to open people's eyes and if it offends them, then maybe I'm not for them. My goal was not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom." In response to his performance, the Parents Television Council
, a conservative decency
campaigning group, urged viewers to complain to the FCC. The performance, the final one of the night, was broadcast "outside the FCC's usual 6am-10pm time frame prohibiting the broadcast of indecent material". ABC received about 1,500 telephoned complaints and announced he would not perform on Good Morning America
on November 25 as planned. CBS subsequently invited Lambert to perform instead on The Early Show
, on the same date in New York City.
In the months surrounding his album release, Lambert appeared on the cover of a number of high profile magazines including Entertainment Weekly
in May 2009, Rolling Stone
in June 2009 and Details
in November 2009. In his Details
shoot he was photographed with a nude woman, sparking controversy. His Rolling Stone
cover story became the magazine's best selling issue of the year. He appeared on the cover of Out
magazine in their "Out 100" issue (11/09), again sparking controversy when Out's publisher issued him an open letter questioning the "gayness" of his image. The Canadian website and magazine Rockstar Weekly
published an Adam Lambert fan magazine in February 2010 featuring fun and inspirational stories from Lambert fans around the world. The issue sold-out quickly in its limited first run and was re-issued in October 2010 with extra pages. In April it was revealed that Lambert had been chosen one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People 2010. He appeared on the cover of Japan's May 2010 issue of Rolling Stone
magazine, after his single "For Your Entertainment
" reached its fifth consecutive number one spot on their radio airplay charts. In November 2011, Lambert appeared on the cover of The Advocate
, which included an in-depth interview about his upcoming album and other topics. The issue immediately became a sought after item, since the magazine is available by subscription only.
To support the release of his album, Lambert performed a number of concerts in 2009 and 2010, both in North America and internationally. These included radio-sponsored events, live concerts, and on-line/TV events. In December 2009, he hosted and performed at a number of radio-sponsored Jingle Balls, in New York, Miami, and Tampa, Florida. And, to ring in the New Year, he headlined the Gridlock New Year's Eve 2010 festival at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The event, hosted by Pamela Anderson
, benefited the American Red Cross
.
In February 2010, Lambert reunited with fellow American Idol contestants Kris Allen
and Allison Iraheta
for a special "Idols Rock My Town" concert. The free concert was held at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, the winning host city in the national contest sponsored by On Air with Ryan Seacrest
and radio station Z100
. On February 13, 2010, AOL Music
unleashed a special, intimate, five-song mini-concert performed by Adam Lambert on AOL Sessions
. He performed, "Whataya Want From Me
", "Fever
", "Strut", "If I Had You
" and "Soaked". On February 15, 2010, he performed another intimate acoustic concert for IHeartRadio
, sponsored by Clear Channel Radio
and P. C. Richard & Son
. At one point, during the singing of "Whataya Want from Me
", Lambert stopped the performance to ask an audience member to stop talking on her cell phone.
On February 27, 2010, Lambert performed his first official solo concert, held at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
in Indio, California. Lambert played to a sold-out audience of 3,500 fans, some of whom came from as far as Thailand and Australia to attend the concert. On March 31, 2010, Lambert performed a set in Berns, Stockholm
, Sweden
. In April 2010, he performed two concerts in British Columbia
, Canada
; the first on April 8 in Coquitlam, BC, and another concert at the River Rock Casino Resort
in Richmond B.C.
the following night.
Lambert kicked off his first solo tour on June 4, 2010. The Glam Nation Tour played throughout the United States, with Allison Iraheta
and Orianthi
. In fall 2010, he took the Glam Nation Tour internationally, and performed throughout Europe and Asia. His concert in Malaysia on October 10, 2010 went ahead as planned, despite protests from an Islamist political party. Lambert performed more than 110 shows in total, nearly all of them sold out.
On December 6, 2010, Lambert released an acoustic EP, titled Acoustic Live!
, recorded in various countries. The disc included versions of “Whataya Want from Me
,” “Music Again,” “Aftermath”, “Soaked” as well as “Mad World”. The EP garnered excellent reviews, and the New York Daily News called it "electrifying". On March 22, 2011, Lambert released Glam Nation Live
, a CD/DVD recorded at his Indianapolis, Indiana show in August 2010.The package included a 13-track CD which captured the audio from the tour and a DVD which featured the concert as well as behind-the-scenes footage.
On May 28, 2011, Lambert performed at the Maxidrom Festival
in Moscow, Russia to an estimated crowd of 50,000 people. On July 29, 2011, Lambert performed at the Ste Agathe en Feux Festival in Quebec
, Canada. During his set, he premiered a stripped down version of "Outlaws of Love", a song to be released on his untitled second album. On August 5, 2011, it was announced that Lambert changed management from 19 Entertainment
to Direct Management Group.
On November 6, 2011, Lambert was invited to join the legendary band Queen
as lead singer for a special performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards
held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the band was honored with the Global Icon Award. In a "spectacular" performance that closed the show, Lambert and Queen presented a medley of the classic hits “The Show Must Go On”
, "We Will Rock You
", and "We Are the Champions
".
On November 18, 2011, Lambert announced his second studio album will be titled Trespassing with a Spring 2012 release date. The title track was co-written with Grammy Award
winning Pharrell Williams
. As promised, the next morning he tweeted the name of the album's first single, "Better Than I Know Myself," a collaboration with Dr. Luke
and Claude Kelly
.
In May 2009, he performed outdoors at the Fifth Avenue studios of CBS' The Early Show
with his rendition of “Mad World.” The following morning, he was interviewed on Live with Regis and Kelly
, and again performed “Mad World.”
He was interviewed for a segment of the ABC News
magazine show 20/20 in June 2009, which was promoted as the first televised discussion by Lambert of his sexuality. The interview reviewed much of his musical career, leading into the up-coming 2009 Idol Tour.
In August 2009, he appeared with fellow Idols David Cook and Kris Allen on the Good Morning America
televised concert series held in Central Park, New York City. He sang a nearly acoustic version of Muse’s “Starlight,” which had become part of his set list for the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009
, then running concurrently.
On November 25, 2009, Lambert performed his single "Whataya Want from Me
" on The Late Show with David Letterman. Earlier that day, he had debuted the song live on The Early Show
, where he also sang "Music Again" from the newly released For Your Entertainment
album. The appearances provided a segue from his controversial American Music Awards
performance, that had occurred only days earlier.
Lambert began December 2009 with an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
. The interview segment covered his AMA performance as well as the newly released For Your Entertainment. Lambert later performed his new single "Whataya Want from Me
", which he reprised in an acoustic version on Ellen’s February 10, 2011 show, soon after being nominated for a Grammy Award
for his vocal performance of the song. In May 2010, he returned to perform a new single, "If I Had You
".
Lambert was chosen for Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009
, and appeared on the December 10 show to be interviewed by Walters. That same morning, he appeared on The View, another interview format which also included a performance of "Whataya Want from Me
". Both the Barbara Walters
special and The View are ABC shows: the same network which had reacted by banning Lambert after receiving complaints following his November American Music Awards
appearance. As a result, the performance on The View was pre-recorded.
Lambert appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
on December 14, 2009 and performed his single. He provided another live performance two days later on the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance
. Appearing with other superstar artists, Lambert's "Whataya Want from Me
" stole the show, according to an MTV review. Earlier that day, he appeared on Chelsea Lately
, with host Chelsea Handler
.
Lambert appeared for the first time on The Jay Leno Show
on December 21, 2009, giving a lengthy interview and performing "Whataya Want from Me
". He was invited back in March 2010 to close the second episode of The Tonight Show
featuring Jay Leno
, with a performance of the song "Sleepwalker" from his debut album. Lambert performed his newly released single "If I Had You
" on Leno's May 21, 2010 show.
Lambert began 2010 with a January interview and performance of "If I Had You
" on The Oprah Winfrey Show
. A few days prior, he was interviewed for the Fuse TV
"On the Record" segment. In February, he could be seen as Grammy correspondent on the Red Carpet for Entertainment Tonight
. In March, as part of his swing through Australia to promote his album, he performed on "So You Think You Can Dance
", as well as the popular morning show "Sunrise
". Lambert also did a series of television appearances in Japan, as part of his Asian and European promotional tour.
In the same month, Lambert was selected to inaugurate the newly resurrected award winning VH1 Unplugged
concert series, for which he interviewed as well as performed stripped down versions of five songs from For Your Entertainment
. March 2010 also saw him as a featured artist on the ABC News Nightline "Playlist" segment, in which he discussed his musical influences and favorite tracks.
In April 2010, Lambert returned to American Idol
as the first former contestant to mentor during an Elvis Presley
themed week, followed by a performance of "Whataya Want from Me
". His contributions drew praise, including from then Idol musical director Rickey Minor
. In May, continuing his swing though Europe, he gave a guest interview for Finland X Factor
's the "Chaos Tube," also performing "Whataya Want From Me
" on the show.
Lambert appeared on Canada's MuchMusic Video Awards
on June 20, 2010, picking up the UR Fav International Video award for Whataya Want from Me
which he also performed.On November 11, 2010 he was the subject of his own E! True Hollywood Story
, which included in-depth interviews with family members, friends, music journalists and others.In December, Lambert was the subject of another in-depth interview for CNN Talk Asia
, which he recorded while on the international leg of his tour.
Lambert walked the 2011 Grammy Awards
red carpet on February 13, 2011 in honor of his nomination in the Best Male Pop Vocal category for Whataya Want From Me
. He was also one of five participants in the Grammy Social Media Rock Stars Summit, which kicked off a three day online Grammy event preceding the show. Other participants included senior executives from Facebook
, Pandora
and Foursquare, and Grammy award winner Chamillionaire
. The summit focused on issues relevant to music and its interface with social and new media platforms.
In the February 19, 2011 episode of MTV
’s “10 0n Top”, Lambert was interviewed during a limo ride to the Grammy Award
event, where he discussed his nomination, fashion and favorites for the evening. The show focusses on the ten “most texted and talked about young celebs at the moment.”
Lambert returned to the American Idol
stage for the March 10, 2011 results show, singing an acoustic version of his song "Aftermath", accompanied only by guitar. The track appears in its original form on his debut album For Your Entertainment
. After the performance, a dance remix version was made available for purchase, with proceeds benefitting The Trevor Project
.
Lambert was profiled in an episode of VH1
's celebrated Behind the Music
series, which premiered on August 7, 2011. The hour-long documentary featured never-before-seen home video, as well as interviews with friends, family, and music industry experts. Lambert revealed details about a broad range of topics, including early struggles with his sexuality, his experience in the theater, the circumstances that led to his American Idol
audition, and the events surrounding the release of his debut album For Your Entertainment
.
MTV
's "Talk@Playground" presented Lambert with an opportunity to fuse two of his passions, fashion and music. In a piece that aired
internationally in September 2011, Lambert was paired with friend and founder of Skingraft Designs, Jonny Cota, to discuss their growth as artists as well as what inspires them creatively. Lambert
had worn Skingraft designs on American Idol
and his Glam Nation Tour.
On September 22, 2011, Lambert again put his flair for fashion and
music to work as guest judge on Project Runway
. Contestants were
charged with designing attire for the Rolling Stone
cover shoot of emerging rock band The Sheepdogs
. Lambert offered constructive critique that was well received by both
contestants and judges.
Lambert donned his mentor cap on November 13, 2011 when he appeared as a "Major" in an episode of The Hub TV Network's
Majors & Minors
. As they rehearsed and performed his platinum hit Whataya Want from Me
, the young singing
contestants were provided with expertise focused on the importance of stage presence and emotional engagement with the audience.
On November 20, 2011, after a two year absence, Lambert returned to the American Music Awards
, introducing a performance by the group OneRepublic
. Rejecting claims that the singer was banned from the show in 2009, Executive Producer Larry Klein
said that he's anticipating future Lambert performances: “Adam Lambert is a friend of ours, he's talented and I like everything about him."
, MusiCares
, charity: water
, and The Trevor Project
. By October 2011, the total donations from Lambert’s fans reached one million dollars.
In January 2009, Lambert asked fans to donate in his name to DonorsChoose.org
, an online education charity that allows the public to directly donate to school projects instead of giving him gifts for his 28th birthday. 2,435 fans showed their support, donating $322,700, which provided resources and supplies to nearly 332,527 students. In June 2010, Lambert again teamed up with DonorsChoose.org
, and asked fans to join his Glam A Classroom campaign to support music and arts programs in high-need public schools. By the end of the campaign, 3,020 fans had donated $208,590, reaching 284,672 students, and bringing total contributions for DonorsChoose
to $531,290.
In August 2009, Lambert and The Pennyroyal Studio collaborated the design of an Eye of Horus pendant with proceeds benefiting the MusiCares charity. Pennyroyal Studio collaborates with musicians, actors, and other public figures to raise money for charity with their Signature Collection designs. The sale of this Eye of Horus pendant raised $32,000 in 7 days. The pendant design was retired in August 2009.
In October 2010, Lambert collaborated a second Signature Collection design with The Pennyroyal Studio, the Infinity pendant, which raised $43,092 for the DonorsChoose.org
charity. The pendant design was retired in October 2010.
In October 2010, Lambert released a link to his 1:36 minute It Gets Better PSA video message for gay teenagers. The message was recorded while Lambert was on his Glam Nation tour. In the 90-second clip, Lambert encouraged viewers to have pride in themselves and not allow bullies to win.
In January 2011, Lambert announced his charity: water
campaign on Twitter, initially setting a goal of $29,000 to commemorate his 29th birthday. Funds raised by charity: water
go towards bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Fans surpassed the goal set by Lambert in less than five hours, and donations reached $60,000 by the end of the next 24 hours. On Lambert’s actual birthday, more than $115,000 in donations came in. According to the charity, that amount broke the record for most donations in a single day, and crashed their servers. By the end of the campaign, Lambert’s fans had raised $323,803, which helped 16,190 people receive clean water.
In March 2011, after a performance on American Idol, Lambert announced that a Billboard remix version of “Aftermath”, a song featured on his debut album For Your Entertainment, would go on sale with a portion of the proceeds going to support The Trevor Project
, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT youth.
In August 2011, Lambert collaborated a third Signature Collection design with The Pennyroyal Studio, a Peace pendant, which raised $43,500 for The Trevor Project charity before the pendant was retired in October 2011.
In August 2011, Equality California Los Angeles
held their annual Equality Awards event honoring inspirational leaders, and allied organizations. Adam Lambert was honored with the group's ‘Equality Idol’ award for being an exemplary role model for the LGBT community. It was presented by Grammy nominated recording artist and producer, Sam Sparro
.
In September 2011 PFLAG National Los Angeles held an event in honor of Leila Lambert and Adam Lambert. Each was presented with an award—an inverted triangle for Adam, a heart for Leila—which each make up a part of the PFLAG logo representing parental and familial love and support for LGBT people.
In October 2011, $2,100 in donations came in on behalf of the Adam Lambert Glambert Fan Army for the MTV Dance Party Marathon which raised funds to combat bullying in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month
to be split between the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
, It Gets Better Project, The Gay Straight Alliance Network (GSA), Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
, The Trevor Project
and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, songwriter, and actor from San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California. In May 2009, he finished as the runner-up on the eighth season
American Idol (season 8)
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
identified Lambert as the first openly gay
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
mainstream pop artist
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
to launch a career on a major label in the United States.
Lambert released his debut album, For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (album)
For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
, in November 2009, via RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
/19 Recordings
19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, United States, is a creator and producer of entertainment properties based around the areas of Music and Television / Film, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom as well as versions of the Idol series in more than...
. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in December 2009, selling 198,000 copies in the United States in the first week. As of January 2011, it had sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide. In 2010, Lambert was nominated for the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
for "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
."
Early life
Adam Lambert was born in IndianapolisIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He is the son of Leila, an interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
er, and Eber Lambert, a program manager
Program Manager
Program Manager is the shell of Windows 3.x and Windows NT 3.x operating systems. This shell exposed a task-oriented graphical user interface , consisting of icons arranged into program groups. It replaced MS-DOS Executive, a file manager, as the default Windows shell.The program derives from the...
for Novatel Wireless
Novatel Wireless
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a company providing wireless broadband access solutions for use in portable personal computers, handheld computing and mobile devices. The company is perhaps best known for its MiFi line of compact wireless routers....
. He has a younger brother, Neil.
Lambert's family moved to California shortly after his birth and he was raised in Rancho Peñasquitos
Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, California
Rancho Peñasquitos is a community in the northeastern part of the city of San Diego, California. It is named after the first Spanish Land Grant in the County - Rancho de Los Penasquitos. Peñasquitos means little cliffs in Spanish. It abuts Los Penasquitos canyon preserve - an open space...
in northeastern San Diego. He attended Deer Canyon Elementary School, Mesa Verde Middle School
Mesa Verde Middle School (Rancho Peñasquitos)
-Feeders and Location:Mesa Verde Middle School is located in the northern part of San Diego, just west of Interstate 15 and about east of Interstate 5. To the south is California State Route 56. There are four elementary "feeder schools" of Mesa Verde: Canyon View Elementary School, Deer Canyon...
, where he was a winner in the Airband competition (featuring Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "Thriller
Thriller (song)
"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records...
"), and Mount Carmel High School (MCHS), where he was in theater, choir, and frequently performed vocals with the school's jazz band "MC Jazz". Some of his memorable MCHS performances included Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
and "It's Only a Paper Moon" with MC Jazz.
His father is of "mostly Norwegian" descent and his mother is Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
; Lambert was raised in his mother's religion. He has performed in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
at Jewish events, singing songs such as "Shir LaShalom
Shir LaShalom
right|thumb|The blood-stained sheet of Shir LaShalom lyrics that Yitzhak Rabin was reading from at the time of his assassination.Shir LaShalom is a popular Israeli song that has come to be an anthem of the Israeli peace camp. The song was first written in 1969. The lyrics were by Yaakov Rotblit...
" at a 2005 tribute concert to assassinated
Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin took place on November 4, 1995 at 21:30, at the end of a rally in support of the Oslo Accords at the Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv...
Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin
' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....
. Lambert attended Temple of the Arts in San Diego and has performed at the Kol Nidre
Kol Nidre
Kol Nidre is an Aramaic declaration recited in the synagogue before the beginning of the evening service on every Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement...
service on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
. Lambert also performed in Jewish-themed The Ten Commandments: The Musical
The Ten Commandments: The Musical
The Ten Commandments: The Musical is a musical with music by Patrick Leonard and lyrics by Maribeth Derry. The book is adapted from the French musical Les dix commandements created by Élie Chouraqui from an idea by Albert Cohen....
as Joshua, performing the song "Is Anybody Listening?"
2005–09: Career beginnings and American Idol
Lambert has been a stage actor since he was about ten years old. He was cast as Linus in San Diego's Lyceum Theater's production of You're a Good Man, Charlie BrownYou're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts...
. Around age twelve, he was cast in a production of Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
and continued performing throughout his teenage years including Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly! (musical)
Hello, Dolly! is a musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955....
, Chess
Chess (musical)
Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other;...
, Camelot
Camelot (musical)
Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe . It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King....
, The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
, Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
and played Captain Hook
Captain Hook
Captain James Hook is the main antagonist of J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and its various adaptations. The character is a villainous pirate captain of the Jolly Roger brig, and lord of the pirate village/harbour in Neverland, where he is widely feared. Most...
in Peter Pan
Peter Pan (1954 musical)
Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark "Moose" Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty...
. At age 19, Lambert left the U.S. to tour with Anita Mann Productions for ten months before returning to the U.S. to perform light opera in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. He was then cast in the European production of Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
and U.S. theater productions of Brigadoon and 110 in the Shade
110 in the Shade
110 in the Shade is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt.Based on Nash's 1954 play The Rainmaker, it focuses on Lizzie Curry, a spinster living on a ranch in the American southwest, and her relationships with local sheriff File, a cautious...
, before being cast in the role of Joshua in The Ten Commandments: The Musical
The Ten Commandments: The Musical
The Ten Commandments: The Musical is a musical with music by Patrick Leonard and lyrics by Maribeth Derry. The book is adapted from the French musical Les dix commandements created by Élie Chouraqui from an idea by Albert Cohen....
at the Kodak Theatre
Kodak Theatre
The Kodak Theatre is a live theatre in the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall and entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles...
alongside Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
. Lambert was one of the few actors in the play that garnered a positive review. From December 2006 to May 2007, Lambert briefly moonlighted as the front man for underground rock band The Citizen Vein with Steve Sidelnyk, Tommy Victor
Tommy Victor
Tommy Victor is the lead singer and guitarist for the crossover thrash/industrial metal band Prong that he founded in New York in 1986. In the late 1980s Victor worked as a soundman at CBGB's. After the release of Rude Awakening in 1996, Prong disbanded and Victor moved to Los Angeles. Since then...
and Monte Pittman
Monte Pittman
Monte Pittman is an American musician, songwriter and studio musician, based out of Los Angeles, known largely as Madonna's long-time guitarist but has quite a diverse professional resume, including stints that range from glam-pop star Adam Lambert to metal legends Prong.-Career:Pittman started...
. Beginning in 2004, he regularly performed at the Upright Cabaret and the Zodiac Show, which was co-created by Carmit Bachar
Carmit Bachar
Carmit Bachar is an American singer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. She was a member of the successful pop/R&B group, The Pussycat Dolls and one of the main vocalists of the group, along with Nicole Scherzinger and Melody Thornton. Bachar left the group in February 2008. She is currently...
of the Pussycat Dolls
Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles; currently consisting of Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala, Kia Hampton and Paula Van Oppen. The Pussycat Dolls were founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995...
.
From 2005-2008 he performed in the ensemble, as well as understudy the role of Fiyero, in the national tour and Los Angeles productions of Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
.
Lambert auditioned for the eighth season
American Idol (season 8)
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. In a Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
interview he said his decision to audition for the show came after a week at Burning Man
Burning Man
Burning Man is a week-long annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event starts on the Monday before the American Labor Day holiday, and ends on the holiday itself. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening...
where he experimented with "certain funguses." He went on to say that "I had a psychedelic experience where I looked up at the clouds and went, 'Oh!' I realized that we all have our own power, and that whatever I wanted to do, I had to make happen."
During his initial audition, he sang "Rock With You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
." Lambert had cited several musical influences, including Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
.
In the semifinals, Lambert was voted into the Top 13, joining fellow Group 2 performers Allison Iraheta
Allison Iraheta
Allison Iraheta is an American singer from Los Angeles, California, who was the fourth place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Iraheta won the Telemundo competition Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser Artista. Following the conclusion of Idol, Iraheta was signed to a record...
and Kris Allen
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
. Lambert and Allen became roommates in the Idol mansion, with Allen stating it was due to their neatness.
During Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
week, he sang "Black or White" leading to praise from all four judges, with Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
predicting that he would go on to the finals. The following week, Lambert sang a version of "Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire (song)
"Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash...
". While Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
, Kara DioGuardi
Kara DioGuardi
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, composer and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; her songs have appeared on more than 159...
, and Abdul all liked his performance, Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
called it "indulgent rubbish". On Motown night, Lambert sang an acoustic version of The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
', "The Tracks of My Tears
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling...
". The judges all liked it, and Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, the week's mentor and the original singer-songwriter, gave Lambert a standing ovation. For his Top 8 performance, Lambert sang the 2001 Michael Andrews
Michael Andrews (musician)
Michael Andrews is an American musician and film score composer. He is best known for a cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, and which became a number one single in the UK in Christmas 2003.-Soundtrack...
and Gary Jules
Gary Jules
Gary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears' third single "Mad World", which he recorded together with friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas Number One single of 2003...
arrangement of "Mad World". Because the show had exceeded its time slot, only Cowell gave a critique, which he did by simply giving Lambert a standing ovation. During the results next night, the other judges agreed that a standing ovation was the best critique of Lambert's performance. For his second Top 7 performance, Lambert sang "If I Can't Have You
If I Can't Have You
"If I Can't Have You" is a song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. It was most famously recorded by Yvonne Elliman for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.-Background:...
", delivering what DioGuardi described as his "most memorable performance", while Cowell described his vocals as "immaculate". Abdul was reduced to tears, with host Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
joking that Lambert had melted her into a "pool of Abdul". In the Top 4, Lambert was the first to sing, performing "Whole Lotta Love
Whole Lotta Love
"Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the United States and Japan as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, when it...
". Cowell commented, "that was one of my favorite performances...nobody can top that now", while Abdul, punning on the song's title, described Lambert's performance as "a whole lotta perfect".
Photos of Lambert romantically kissing another man surfaced while he was competing on American Idol. Initially shown and discussed by commentators on The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, the panel agreed that the images would likely have no impact on the competition. Lambert confirmed that the photos were of him, stating he had nothing to hide and has always been open about his life. Mainstream media speculation centered on Lambert's sexuality; presuming he was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, he would be the first gay American Idol.Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken
Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released...
, American Idol (season 2)
American Idol (Season 2)
The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003 and continued until May 21, 2003. The title of show was shortened from American Idol: The Search for a Superstar of Season 1 to just American Idol. Brian Dunkleman quit after the first season, and Seacrest therefore became the lone...
runner-up came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
in 2008. Will Young
Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
, the 2002 winner of the inaugural Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
contests on which all the other Idol series
Idol series
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the "Idols" format, as described by FremantleMedia...
are based, came out as gay after he won. Much of the media focus regarded the readiness of American Idol voters for an openly gay winner. Asked by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
whether the speculation surrounding his sexual orientation impacted the final vote, Lambert laughed and said "probably". He confirmed that he was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
in a Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
cover story interview shortly after he was named the American Idol runner-up.
For the top three show, in which each of the three remaining contestants does a hometown visit and performance, Lambert sang both Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "Black or White", and the Michael Andrews
Michael Andrews (musician)
Michael Andrews is an American musician and film score composer. He is best known for a cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, and which became a number one single in the UK in Christmas 2003.-Soundtrack...
/ Gary Jules
Gary Jules
Gary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears' third single "Mad World", which he recorded together with friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas Number One single of 2003...
version of Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
' "Mad World
Mad World
"Mad World" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears. Written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith, it was the band's third single release and first chart hit, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. Both "Mad World" and its B-side, "Ideas As Opiates", would turn up...
" at his alma mater, Mt. Carmel High School
Mount Carmel High School (San Diego, California)
Mt. Carmel High School , a California Distinguished High School in 2005, is located in Rancho Peñasquitos, a community of San Diego, California, United States. The school belongs to the Poway Unified School District and its mascot is the Sundevil. The current principal is Dawn Kastner. She was...
. Afterwards, San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders
Jerry Sanders (politician)
Gerald Robert "Jerry" Sanders is an American politician, Mayor of San Diego, California, and former Chief of Police.-Personal life:...
declared May 8, 2009 "Adam Lambert Day."
On May 20, 2009, Lambert was announced as the runner-up for the eighth season of American Idol. Lambert performed a medley of "Beth
Beth (song)
"Beth" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer. To date, it is their highest-charting single, reaching #7 on Billboard's American charts. It is one of only two Gold selling singles for the band , and their first of two Top Ten singles...
", "Detroit Rock City
Detroit Rock City
"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss featured on their 1976 album, Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin and is about a real Kiss fan who was killed in a car accident on his way to a Kiss concert...
", and "Rock and Roll All Nite
Rock and Roll All Nite
"Rock and Roll All Nite" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1975 album Dressed to Kill. It was released as the A-side of their fifth single, with the album track "Getaway." The studio version of the song peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard singles chart, besting the band's previous...
" with rock band Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
during the final episode. His version of the winning single "No Boundaries
No Boundaries (song)
"No Boundaries" is the 2009 winner's single of season 8 of the reality television show American Idol.It was co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, along with Cathy Dennis, and Mitch Allan...
" was later released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
alongside American Idol winner Kris Allen
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
's version. Before the results were announced, Allen and Lambert joined together with Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
’s original guitarist Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
and drummer Roger Taylor
Roger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
to perform the anthem "We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
".
Upon winning, Allen said, "Adam deserved this." Explaining this remark later, Allen said that he thought Lambert deserved to win as much as he did, and that Lambert "was the most consistent person all year. He was seriously one of the most gifted performers that I've ever met."
The LA Times has ranked Lambert 5th in their list of the top 120 American Idol contestants, selected from seasons 1 to 9 of the show.
American Idol season 8 performances and results
| Week # | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Order # | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Auditioner's Choice | "Rock with You" "Bohemian Rhapsody Bohemian Rhapsody "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera... " |
Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... Queen Queen (band) Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor... |
N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | First Solo | "What's Up What's Up (song) "What's Up?" is a rock song written by Linda Perry for 4 Non Blondes' debut album Bigger, Better, Faster, More! . It was released as the album's second single in 1993... " |
4 Non Blondes 4 Non Blondes 4 Non Blondes was an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1989. The group was formed by bassist Christa Hillhouse, guitarist Shaunna Hall, drummer Wanda Day, and vocalist and guitarist Linda Perry. Prior to the release of their first album, Roger Rocha replaced Hall on... |
N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | Group Performance | "Some Kind of Wonderful Some Kind of Wonderful (Soul Brothers Six song) "Some Kind of Wonderful" is a song written by John Ellison. It was first recorded in 1967 by the American group Soul Brothers Six, peaking at number ninety-one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100... " |
Soul Brothers Six Soul Brothers Six Soul Brothers Six were an American rhythm and blues band formed in Rochester, New York during the mid-1960s. They are best remembered for their song "Some Kind of Wonderful", which was later a big hit for Grand Funk Railroad.-History:... |
N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | Second Solo | "Believe Believe (Cher song) "Believe" is a song by American recording artist Cher. It was released on November 24, 1998 as the lead single from her twenty-third studio album of the same name. It was written by Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennen, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Matthew Gray, and Timothy Powell and produced by Mark... " |
Cher Cher Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in... |
N/A | Advanced |
| Top 36/Semi-Final 2 | Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... Hits to Date |
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction " Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Richards's throwaway three-note guitar riff — intended to be replaced by horns — opens and drives the song... " |
The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up... |
12 | Advanced |
| Top 13 | Michael Jackson | "Black or White" | Michael Jackson | 11 | Safe |
| Top 11 | Grand Ole Opry Grand Ole Opry The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM... |
"Ring of Fire Ring of Fire (song) "Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash... " |
Anita Carter Anita Carter Ina Anita Carter , the youngest daughter of Ezra and Mother Maybelle Carter, was a versatile American singer who experimented with several different types of music and played stand-up bass with her sisters Helen Carter and June Carter Cash as The Carter Sisters... |
5 | Safe |
| Top 10 | Motown | "The Tracks of My Tears The Tracks of My Tears "The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling... " |
The Miracles The Miracles The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature... |
8 | Safe |
| Top 9 | Top Downloads | "Play That Funky Music Play That Funky Music "Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn... " |
Wild Cherry Wild Cherry (band) Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band best known for their funk song "Play That Funky Music".-History:Rob Parissi was raised in the steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of... |
8 | Safe |
| Top 8 | Year They Were Born (1982) | "Mad World Mad World "Mad World" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears. Written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith, it was the band's third single release and first chart hit, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. Both "Mad World" and its B-side, "Ideas As Opiates", would turn up... " |
Tears for Fears Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into... |
8 | Safe |
| Top 7 | Songs from the Cinema | "Born to Be Wild Born to Be Wild "Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude... " – Easy Rider Easy Rider Easy Rider is a 1969 American road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper. It tells the story of two bikers who travel through the American Southwest and South with the aim of achieving freedom... |
Steppenwolf Steppenwolf (band) Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The... |
3 | Safe |
| Top 7 | Disco Disco Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and... |
"If I Can't Have You If I Can't Have You "If I Can't Have You" is a song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. It was most famously recorded by Yvonne Elliman for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.-Background:... " |
Yvonne Elliman Yvonne Elliman Yvonne Marianne Elliman is an American singer who performed for four years in the first cast of Jesus Christ Superstar... |
5 | Safe |
| Top 5 | Rat Pack Standards Rat Pack The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean... |
"Feeling Good Feeling Good "Feeling Good" is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd starring Cy Grant, who sang the original version of the song... " |
Cy Grant Cy Grant Cy Grant was a Guyanese actor, singer, writer and poet, who in the 1950s became the first black person to appear regularly on British television... |
5 | Bottom 2 |
| Top 4 | Rock and Roll Rock and roll Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music... Solo Solo (music) In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer... Duet Duet (music) A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as... |
"Whole Lotta Love Whole Lotta Love "Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the United States and Japan as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, when it... " "Slow Ride Slow Ride "Slow Ride" is the title of a song composed by "Lonesome" Dave Peverett and recorded by the British rock band Foghat, appearing on their fifth album Fool for the City . This was Foghat's top single, peaking at number 20. It also appears on Foghat Live , which was their best selling album at over... " with Allison Iraheta Allison Iraheta Allison Iraheta is an American singer from Los Angeles, California, who was the fourth place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Iraheta won the Telemundo competition Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser Artista. Following the conclusion of Idol, Iraheta was signed to a record... |
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham... Foghat Foghat Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records... |
1 6 |
Safe |
| Top 3 | Judge's Choice (Simon Cowell Simon Cowell Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol... ) Contestant's Choice |
"One One (U2 song) "One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their 1991 album Achtung Baby, and it was released as the record's third single in March 1992. It was recorded at three recording studios, Hansa Ton Studios, Elsinore, and Windmill Lane Studios... " "Cryin' |
U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... Aerosmith Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many... |
3 6 |
Safe |
| Top 2 | Contestant's Choice Simon Fuller Simon Fuller Simon Fuller is a British artist manager, television producer and creator of the Idol franchise, first seen as Pop Idol in the UK. Fuller is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance and other U.S... 's Choice Coronation Song |
"Mad World" "A Change Is Gonna Come A Change Is Gonna Come (song) "A Change Is Gonna Come" is a 1964 single by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, written and first recorded in 1963 and released under the RCA Victor label shortly after his death in late 1964. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, the song came to exemplify the... " "No Boundaries No Boundaries (song) "No Boundaries" is the 2009 winner's single of season 8 of the reality television show American Idol.It was co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, along with Cathy Dennis, and Mitch Allan... " |
Tears for Fears Sam Cooke Sam Cooke Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and... Kris Allen Kris Allen Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol... /Adam Lambert |
1 3 5 |
Runner-up |
- Due to the judges using their one save to save Matt GiraudMatt GiraudMatthew Scott "Matt" Giraud is a dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, Michigan and the fifth place finalist of the eighth season of the reality television series American Idol.-Early life:...
, the Top 7 remained intact for an additional week. - It was only announced that Allison IrahetaAllison IrahetaAllison Iraheta is an American singer from Los Angeles, California, who was the fourth place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Iraheta won the Telemundo competition Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser Artista. Following the conclusion of Idol, Iraheta was signed to a record...
received the lowest number of votes this week. The other member(s) of the bottom two or three were never revealed, and the safe contestants were announced in random order.
2009-present: For Your Entertainment and Trespassing
In May 2009 BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine confirmed his solo album was expected to be released in November 2009. Lambert stated that he would love to work with Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
, stating "When I was working with Slash I felt at home." He also stated that his solo album would be eclectic, having a variety of sounds. Rock group Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, with whom Lambert performed on the season finale, were at one point rumored to be considering asking Lambert to be their new frontman
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
. Lambert was a guest on Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
(guest-hosted by Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
) along with Kris Allen
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
, judge Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
, and the rest of the top ten finalists. In that appearance, he stated that he planned to create a pop-rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
, multi-genre album fused with electronic
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
production. Lambert stuck to those intentions; the album he subsequently released conformed highly to his description of the album he planned to make.
Adam Lambert worked with producers Greg Wells
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,...
, Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
, Max Martin
Max Martin
Martin Karl Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. Raised in Stenhamra, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, he broke through as a producer and songwriter in the mid to late 1990s after crafting a string of hits for pop artists like the Backstreet Boys,...
, Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro is an Australian singer-songwriter, music producer, and former child actor. His stage name was derived from a family nickname, which in turn was inspired by the Dagenham radio mascot Sammy Sparrow...
, RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
, Dr. Luke
Dr. Luke
Lukasz Gottwald , better known as Dr. Luke, is an American songwriter, record producer, and remixer. Luke performed with the Saturday Night Live Band for ten seasons until 2007. He has co-written and co-produced a string of commercially successful songs...
, and Linda Perry
Linda Perry
Linda Perry is an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer. Once best known as the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, Perry has founded two record labels and has become a major songwriter and producer...
, among others, in the run-up to the release of his debut album, For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (album)
For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
. Aimee Mayo
Aimee Mayo
Aimee Mayo is an American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kellie Pickler. Mayo owns her own publishing company, Little Blue Typewriter Music.-Biography:Aimee Mayo grew up in Gadsden, Alabama...
stated on Twitter that she wrote at least two songs for Lambert, one co-written with Ryan Tedder and Chris Lindsey and, another with Ferras
Ferras
Ferras Alqaisi , known as Ferras, is a Jordanian-American Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who has signed with EMI as part of Capitol Records.-Career:Ferras grew up feeling out of place in a small Illinois town called Gillespie...
, the latter of which was not included for selection. Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
also reportedly wrote a song that they spent some time recording. On October 28, 2009, Lambert announced via Twitter that his lead single from his debut album would be "For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (song)
"For Your Entertainment" is the debut mainstream single by American recording artist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert....
", a song that was produced by Dr. Luke
Dr. Luke
Lukasz Gottwald , better known as Dr. Luke, is an American songwriter, record producer, and remixer. Luke performed with the Saturday Night Live Band for ten seasons until 2007. He has co-written and co-produced a string of commercially successful songs...
.
Lambert was recruited to record the soundtrack "Time for Miracles
Time for Miracles
"Time for Miracles" is Adam Lambert's second single. It was released on October 16, 2009 via Amazon.com. Although the song was his first since American Idol, it was not released as his official debut single. Instead, the title track to his album, For Your Entertainment, was released. The song is...
" for the disaster movie 2012
2012 (film)
2012 is a 2009 American disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich. It stars John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson. It was produced by Emmerich's production company, Centropolis Entertainment and was distributed by Columbia Pictures...
that was released on October 20, 2009 as a side project single. The song was lauded ahead of its release by Queen's guitarist, Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
, who described himself as being "completely blown away" upon hearing the track. The track "Time for Miracles" also appears on For Your Entertainment.
On June 19, 2009, Hi Fi Recordings
Hi Fi Recordings
Hi Fi Recordings is a record label based in New York which first gained attention in June 2009 when it announced that it would release Adam Lambert's debut album, to be called On with the Show. Hi Fi had previously released American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle's debut CD, Coming Back to You, as...
and Wilshire Records revealed that they would be releasing On With the Show, a compilation of songs Lambert had recorded prior to American Idol while working as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
. The album's first single is "Want." Lambert later issued a statement through 19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, United States, is a creator and producer of entertainment properties based around the areas of Music and Television / Film, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom as well as versions of the Idol series in more than...
stating, "Back in 2005 when I was a struggling artist, I was hired as a studio singer to lend my vocals to tracks written by someone else. I was broke at the time and this was my chance to make a few bucks, so I jumped at the opportunity to record for my first time in a professional studio. The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on."
Lambert won two awards in 2009: the Young Hollywood Award for Artist of the Year and the Teen Choice Award for Male Reality/Variety Star. Lambert participated in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009
American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009
The American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 was a summer concert tour in the United States and Canada that featured the top 10 contestants of the eighth season of American Idol...
with his fellow Top 10 contestants; the tour visited 50 cities in the United States and Canada from July 5 to September 15, 2009.
In November, Lambert performed "For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (song)
"For Your Entertainment" is the debut mainstream single by American recording artist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert....
" at the American Music Awards of 2009
American Music Awards of 2009
The 37th American Music Awards took place on November 22, 2009 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The nominees were announced on October 13, 2009. For the first time in history, there was no host for the year's ceremony. Instead, various celebrities introduced the performers similar...
. The performance showed Lambert kissing a male bassist, grinding a dancer's head against his pelvis, and grabbing the crotch of another. Lambert told Rolling Stone magazine, "Female performers have been doing this for years—pushing the envelope about sexuality—and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out. We're in 2009—it's time to take risks, be a little more brave, time to open people's eyes and if it offends them, then maybe I'm not for them. My goal was not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom." In response to his performance, the Parents Television Council
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television Council is a U.S. based advocacy group founded by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995 using the National Legion of Decency as a model...
, a conservative decency
Decency
Decency is the quality or state of conforming to social or moral standards of taste and propriety.-See also:*Taste *Communications Decency Act*Public indecency*Indecent exposure*Sodomy law*Norm *Grotesque body...
campaigning group, urged viewers to complain to the FCC. The performance, the final one of the night, was broadcast "outside the FCC's usual 6am-10pm time frame prohibiting the broadcast of indecent material". ABC received about 1,500 telephoned complaints and announced he would not perform on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
on November 25 as planned. CBS subsequently invited Lambert to perform instead on The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, on the same date in New York City.
In the months surrounding his album release, Lambert appeared on the cover of a number of high profile magazines including Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
in May 2009, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
in June 2009 and Details
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
in November 2009. In his Details
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
shoot he was photographed with a nude woman, sparking controversy. His Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
cover story became the magazine's best selling issue of the year. He appeared on the cover of Out
Out (magazine)
Out is a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States. It carries itself in a similar editorial manner to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was published by PlanetOut Inc...
magazine in their "Out 100" issue (11/09), again sparking controversy when Out's publisher issued him an open letter questioning the "gayness" of his image. The Canadian website and magazine Rockstar Weekly
Rockstar Weekly
Rockstar Weekly is a Canadian music website, operated out of Surrey, British Columbia, that reports on music, film, fashion, and popular culture.-History:...
published an Adam Lambert fan magazine in February 2010 featuring fun and inspirational stories from Lambert fans around the world. The issue sold-out quickly in its limited first run and was re-issued in October 2010 with extra pages. In April it was revealed that Lambert had been chosen one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People 2010. He appeared on the cover of Japan's May 2010 issue of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine, after his single "For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (album)
For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
" reached its fifth consecutive number one spot on their radio airplay charts. In November 2011, Lambert appeared on the cover of The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, which included an in-depth interview about his upcoming album and other topics. The issue immediately became a sought after item, since the magazine is available by subscription only.
To support the release of his album, Lambert performed a number of concerts in 2009 and 2010, both in North America and internationally. These included radio-sponsored events, live concerts, and on-line/TV events. In December 2009, he hosted and performed at a number of radio-sponsored Jingle Balls, in New York, Miami, and Tampa, Florida. And, to ring in the New Year, he headlined the Gridlock New Year's Eve 2010 festival at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The event, hosted by Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...
, benefited the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
.
In February 2010, Lambert reunited with fellow American Idol contestants Kris Allen
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
and Allison Iraheta
Allison Iraheta
Allison Iraheta is an American singer from Los Angeles, California, who was the fourth place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Iraheta won the Telemundo competition Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser Artista. Following the conclusion of Idol, Iraheta was signed to a record...
for a special "Idols Rock My Town" concert. The free concert was held at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, the winning host city in the national contest sponsored by On Air with Ryan Seacrest
On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)
On Air with Ryan Seacrest is the name of an American syndicated radio program hosted by Ryan Seacrest. As of 2010, the daily morning radio show airs on Los Angeles top 40 station KIIS-FM and was launched at the same time as the television show with the same name, although Seacrest had hosted a...
and radio station Z100
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
. On February 13, 2010, AOL Music
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
unleashed a special, intimate, five-song mini-concert performed by Adam Lambert on AOL Sessions
Sessions@AOL
Sessions@AOL is a special avenue of programming conducted by AOL Music. Originally an AOL exclusive, Sessions@AOL can now also be seen as an avenue for non-AOL users as well. Sessions@AOL consists of exclusive and intimate performances of songs by popular musicians, with likes of bands such as...
. He performed, "Whataya Want From Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
", "Fever
Fever (Adam Lambert song)
"Fever" is a song by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. The song was written by Lady Gaga, Rob Fusari and Jeff Bhasker for Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment...
", "Strut", "If I Had You
If I Had You
"If I Had You" is a 1928 song by "Irving King" with Ted Shapiro. The romantic love song has become a mainstream jazz standard, and continues to be performed and used in movie soundtracks into the 21st century...
" and "Soaked". On February 15, 2010, he performed another intimate acoustic concert for IHeartRadio
Iheartradio
iHeartRadio is a Clear Channel Radio network to aggregate local radio brands, personalities and on-demand content. It is best known as a mobile application...
, sponsored by Clear Channel Radio
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and P. C. Richard & Son
P. C. Richard & Son
P.C. Richard & Son, also known as simply P.C. Richard, is the largest chain of private, family-owned electronics and appliances stores in the United States. Its stores are located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with the majority of the stores located on Long Island and in...
. At one point, during the singing of "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
", Lambert stopped the performance to ask an audience member to stop talking on her cell phone.
On February 27, 2010, Lambert performed his first official solo concert, held at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is a casino and hotel located south and west of Palm Springs, California near I-10 in Indio, California. It is owned and operated by Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, a federally recognized tribe. The hotel has 250 rooms...
in Indio, California. Lambert played to a sold-out audience of 3,500 fans, some of whom came from as far as Thailand and Australia to attend the concert. On March 31, 2010, Lambert performed a set in Berns, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. In April 2010, he performed two concerts in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
; the first on April 8 in Coquitlam, BC, and another concert at the River Rock Casino Resort
River Rock Casino Resort
River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia is the largest casino in the province of British Columbia. The casino is owned by Great Canadian Gaming...
in Richmond B.C.
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
the following night.
Lambert kicked off his first solo tour on June 4, 2010. The Glam Nation Tour played throughout the United States, with Allison Iraheta
Allison Iraheta
Allison Iraheta is an American singer from Los Angeles, California, who was the fourth place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Iraheta won the Telemundo competition Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser Artista. Following the conclusion of Idol, Iraheta was signed to a record...
and Orianthi
Orianthi
Orianthi Panagaris , better known simply as Orianthi, is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist. She is perhaps best known for being Michael Jackson's lead guitarist for his ill-fated This Is It concert series. Her debut single "According to You" has peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8...
. In fall 2010, he took the Glam Nation Tour internationally, and performed throughout Europe and Asia. His concert in Malaysia on October 10, 2010 went ahead as planned, despite protests from an Islamist political party. Lambert performed more than 110 shows in total, nearly all of them sold out.
On December 6, 2010, Lambert released an acoustic EP, titled Acoustic Live!
Acoustic Live!
Acoustic Live! is the first extended play by American singer Adam Lambert, released on December 6, 2010. The EP features acoustic versions of four songs from Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment, as well as his show-stopping "Mad World" rendition.-Critical reception:The album has since...
, recorded in various countries. The disc included versions of “Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
,” “Music Again,” “Aftermath”, “Soaked” as well as “Mad World”. The EP garnered excellent reviews, and the New York Daily News called it "electrifying". On March 22, 2011, Lambert released Glam Nation Live
Glam Nation Live
Glam Nation Live is the first live album by American recording artist, Adam Lambert which was released on March 22, 2011 on DVD and CD formats. The concert was filmed at Clowes Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana during the North American leg of his Glam Nation Tour.-Track listing:17...
, a CD/DVD recorded at his Indianapolis, Indiana show in August 2010.The package included a 13-track CD which captured the audio from the tour and a DVD which featured the concert as well as behind-the-scenes footage.
On May 28, 2011, Lambert performed at the Maxidrom Festival
Maxidrom
Maxidrom is an annual international musical festival organized by Radio Maximum station.-History:...
in Moscow, Russia to an estimated crowd of 50,000 people. On July 29, 2011, Lambert performed at the Ste Agathe en Feux Festival in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada. During his set, he premiered a stripped down version of "Outlaws of Love", a song to be released on his untitled second album. On August 5, 2011, it was announced that Lambert changed management from 19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, United States, is a creator and producer of entertainment properties based around the areas of Music and Television / Film, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom as well as versions of the Idol series in more than...
to Direct Management Group.
On November 6, 2011, Lambert was invited to join the legendary band Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
as lead singer for a special performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards
2011 MTV Europe Music Awards
The 2011 MTV EMAs were held in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Odyssey Arena in the Titanic Quarter area of the city and were hosted by Selena Gomez...
held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the band was honored with the Global Icon Award. In a "spectacular" performance that closed the show, Lambert and Queen presented a medley of the classic hits “The Show Must Go On”
The Show Must Go On (Queen song)
"The Show Must Go On" is a song by English rock band Queen, featured as the twelfth and final track on their 1991 album Innuendo. It is credited to Queen, but written primarily by Brian May. The song chronicles the effort of Freddie Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his...
, "We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
", and "We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
".
On November 18, 2011, Lambert announced his second studio album will be titled Trespassing with a Spring 2012 release date. The title track was co-written with Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
. As promised, the next morning he tweeted the name of the album's first single, "Better Than I Know Myself," a collaboration with Dr. Luke
Dr. Luke
Lukasz Gottwald , better known as Dr. Luke, is an American songwriter, record producer, and remixer. Luke performed with the Saturday Night Live Band for ten seasons until 2007. He has co-written and co-produced a string of commercially successful songs...
and Claude Kelly
Claude Kelly
Claude Kelly is an American singer-songwriter. He has a prolific discography, well known for writing for artists such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Jay Sean, Adam Lambert, Jessie J and Charice.-Career:He began playing the piano...
.
Television
Lambert has made numerous television appearances since leaving the American Idol stage.In May 2009, he performed outdoors at the Fifth Avenue studios of CBS' The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
with his rendition of “Mad World.” The following morning, he was interviewed on Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
, and again performed “Mad World.”
He was interviewed for a segment of the ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
magazine show 20/20 in June 2009, which was promoted as the first televised discussion by Lambert of his sexuality. The interview reviewed much of his musical career, leading into the up-coming 2009 Idol Tour.
In August 2009, he appeared with fellow Idols David Cook and Kris Allen on the Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
televised concert series held in Central Park, New York City. He sang a nearly acoustic version of Muse’s “Starlight,” which had become part of his set list for the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009
American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009
The American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 was a summer concert tour in the United States and Canada that featured the top 10 contestants of the eighth season of American Idol...
, then running concurrently.
On November 25, 2009, Lambert performed his single "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
" on The Late Show with David Letterman. Earlier that day, he had debuted the song live on The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, where he also sang "Music Again" from the newly released For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (album)
For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
album. The appearances provided a segue from his controversial American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
performance, that had occurred only days earlier.
Lambert began December 2009 with an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
. The interview segment covered his AMA performance as well as the newly released For Your Entertainment. Lambert later performed his new single "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
", which he reprised in an acoustic version on Ellen’s February 10, 2011 show, soon after being nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for his vocal performance of the song. In May 2010, he returned to perform a new single, "If I Had You
If I Had You (Adam Lambert song)
"If I Had You" is a song by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. The song was written by Max Martin, Shellback, and Savan Kotecha and produced by Martin, Shellback and Kristian Lundin for Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment...
".
Lambert was chosen for Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009
Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People
Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People is a televised compilation of ten public figures who are prominent names in the fields of entertainment, sports, politics and popular culture. Hosted by Barbara Walters, the list has been broadcast annually on the second Thursday of December on ABC since...
, and appeared on the December 10 show to be interviewed by Walters. That same morning, he appeared on The View, another interview format which also included a performance of "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
". Both the Barbara Walters
Barbara Walters
Barbara Jill Walters is an American broadcast journalist, author, and television personality. She has hosted morning television shows , the television newsmagazine , former co-anchor of the ABC Evening News, and current contributor to ABC News.Walters was first known as a popular TV morning news...
special and The View are ABC shows: the same network which had reacted by banning Lambert after receiving complaints following his November American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
appearance. As a result, the performance on The View was pre-recorded.
Lambert appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show that featured Conan O'Brien as host from June 1, 2009 to January 22, 2010 as part of NBC's long-running Tonight Show franchise...
on December 14, 2009 and performed his single. He provided another live performance two days later on the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition and reality show that airs on Fox in the United States.The series first premiered on July 20, 2005, and was created by American Idol producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions...
. Appearing with other superstar artists, Lambert's "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
" stole the show, according to an MTV review. Earlier that day, he appeared on Chelsea Lately
Chelsea Lately
Chelsea Lately is an American late night comedy talk show hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler on E!. The show debuted on July 16, 2007, and is produced by Handler's production company, Borderline Amazing Productions...
, with host Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Joy Handler is an American stand-up comedian, humorist, television host, actress, model and best-selling author. She currently hosts a late-night talk show titled, Chelsea Lately on the E! Cable Television Network. In 2009 she won a Bravo A-List Award...
.
Lambert appeared for the first time on The Jay Leno Show
The Jay Leno Show
The Jay Leno Show is an American comedy show created by and starring Jay Leno, that aired from September 14, 2009 to February 9, 2010 on NBC following the May 29, 2009 conclusion of Leno's first tenure as host of The Tonight Show...
on December 21, 2009, giving a lengthy interview and performing "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
". He was invited back in March 2010 to close the second episode of The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
featuring Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
, with a performance of the song "Sleepwalker" from his debut album. Lambert performed his newly released single "If I Had You
If I Had You (Adam Lambert song)
"If I Had You" is a song by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. The song was written by Max Martin, Shellback, and Savan Kotecha and produced by Martin, Shellback and Kristian Lundin for Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment...
" on Leno's May 21, 2010 show.
Lambert began 2010 with a January interview and performance of "If I Had You
If I Had You (Adam Lambert song)
"If I Had You" is a song by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. The song was written by Max Martin, Shellback, and Savan Kotecha and produced by Martin, Shellback and Kristian Lundin for Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment...
" on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
. A few days prior, he was interviewed for the Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
"On the Record" segment. In February, he could be seen as Grammy correspondent on the Red Carpet for Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
. In March, as part of his swing through Australia to promote his album, he performed on "So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance Australia
So You Think You Can Dance Australia was an Australian version of the American reality dance-off series So You Think You Can Dance. The show is hosted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, with Jason Coleman, Matt Lee and Bonnie Lythgoe acting as the judges....
", as well as the popular morning show "Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
". Lambert also did a series of television appearances in Japan, as part of his Asian and European promotional tour.
In the same month, Lambert was selected to inaugurate the newly resurrected award winning VH1 Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
concert series, for which he interviewed as well as performed stripped down versions of five songs from For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (album)
For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
. March 2010 also saw him as a featured artist on the ABC News Nightline "Playlist" segment, in which he discussed his musical influences and favorite tracks.
In April 2010, Lambert returned to American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
as the first former contestant to mentor during an Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
themed week, followed by a performance of "Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
". His contributions drew praise, including from then Idol musical director Rickey Minor
Rickey Minor
Rickey Minor is a music director, composer and music producer, now best known as musical director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno after Kevin Eubanks left. Minor was born in Monroe, Louisiana to parents Cole and Goldie Minor and was raised in South Central Los Angeles, CA...
. In May, continuing his swing though Europe, he gave a guest interview for Finland X Factor
X Factor (Finland)
X Factor is the Finnish version of X Factor, a show originating from the United Kingdom. It is a television music talent show contested by aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions...
's the "Chaos Tube," also performing "Whataya Want From Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
" on the show.
Lambert appeared on Canada's MuchMusic Video Awards
MuchMusic Video Awards
The MuchMusic Video Awards are annual awards presented by the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic to honour the year's best music videos....
on June 20, 2010, picking up the UR Fav International Video award for Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
which he also performed.On November 11, 2010 he was the subject of his own E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story is an American documentary series on E! that deals with famous Hollywood celebrities, movies, TV shows and well-known public figures...
, which included in-depth interviews with family members, friends, music journalists and others.In December, Lambert was the subject of another in-depth interview for CNN Talk Asia
TalkAsia
TalkAsia is a CNN International interview show hosted by rotating anchors of CNN. It has been until recently interviews various people who, in some way, affect Asian issues...
, which he recorded while on the international leg of his tour.
Lambert walked the 2011 Grammy Awards
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
red carpet on February 13, 2011 in honor of his nomination in the Best Male Pop Vocal category for Whataya Want From Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
. He was also one of five participants in the Grammy Social Media Rock Stars Summit, which kicked off a three day online Grammy event preceding the show. Other participants included senior executives from Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, Pandora
Pandora
In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman. As Hesiod related it, each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts...
and Foursquare, and Grammy award winner Chamillionaire
Chamillionaire
Hakeem Seriki , better known by his stage name Chamillionaire, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment. Chamillionaire is also the founder and an original member of The Color Changin' Click...
. The summit focused on issues relevant to music and its interface with social and new media platforms.
In the February 19, 2011 episode of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s “10 0n Top”, Lambert was interviewed during a limo ride to the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
event, where he discussed his nomination, fashion and favorites for the evening. The show focusses on the ten “most texted and talked about young celebs at the moment.”
Lambert returned to the American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
stage for the March 10, 2011 results show, singing an acoustic version of his song "Aftermath", accompanied only by guitar. The track appears in its original form on his debut album For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (album)
For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
. After the performance, a dance remix version was made available for purchase, with proceeds benefitting The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 and the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Through a toll-free telephone number, it operates The Trevor Lifeline, a...
.
Lambert was profiled in an episode of VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's celebrated Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
series, which premiered on August 7, 2011. The hour-long documentary featured never-before-seen home video, as well as interviews with friends, family, and music industry experts. Lambert revealed details about a broad range of topics, including early struggles with his sexuality, his experience in the theater, the circumstances that led to his American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
audition, and the events surrounding the release of his debut album For Your Entertainment
For Your Entertainment (album)
For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
.
MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's "Talk@Playground" presented Lambert with an opportunity to fuse two of his passions, fashion and music. In a piece that aired
internationally in September 2011, Lambert was paired with friend and founder of Skingraft Designs, Jonny Cota, to discuss their growth as artists as well as what inspires them creatively. Lambert
had worn Skingraft designs on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and his Glam Nation Tour.
On September 22, 2011, Lambert again put his flair for fashion and
music to work as guest judge on Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
. Contestants were
charged with designing attire for the Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
cover shoot of emerging rock band The Sheepdogs
The Sheepdogs
The Sheepdogs are a Canadian rock band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, consisting of Ewan Currie on vocals and guitar, Leot Hanson on guitar, Ryan Gullen on bass and Sam Corbett on drums....
. Lambert offered constructive critique that was well received by both
contestants and judges.
Lambert donned his mentor cap on November 13, 2011 when he appeared as a "Major" in an episode of The Hub TV Network's
Majors & Minors
Majors & Minors
Majors & Minors is an American reality television singing competition, that premiered on The Hub on September 23, 2011. Auditions are held for 8-16 year olds, and whoever wins will get a chance to have a partnership with Sony's RCA Music Group. BMI will be involved with the series...
. As they rehearsed and performed his platinum hit Whataya Want from Me
Whataya Want from Me
"Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by...
, the young singing
contestants were provided with expertise focused on the importance of stage presence and emotional engagement with the audience.
On November 20, 2011, after a two year absence, Lambert returned to the American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
, introducing a performance by the group OneRepublic
OneRepublic
OneRepublic is an American pop rock band from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins, the band achieved massive success on MySpace, becoming the most prominent unsigned act on the website then...
. Rejecting claims that the singer was banned from the show in 2009, Executive Producer Larry Klein
Larry Klein
Larry Klein is a music producer, songwriter and bass guitar player, commonly known for being the frequent musical collaborator, and ex-husband, of Joni Mitchell....
said that he's anticipating future Lambert performances: “Adam Lambert is a friend of ours, he's talented and I like everything about him."
Advocacy
Since 2009, Lambert has supported various charity organizations, including DonorsChoose.orgDonorsChoose
DonorsChoose.org is a United States based nonprofit organization that provides a way for people to donate directly to specific projects at public schools ....
, MusiCares
MusiCares
The MusiCares Foundation, Inc., was established in 1989 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Meant for musicians to have a place to turn, in times of financial, personal, or medical crisis, its primary purpose is to focus the resources and attention of the music industry on human...
, charity: water
Charity: water
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Founded in 2006, it has helped fund 3,962 projects in 19 countries, benefiting over 1,794,983 people...
, and The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 and the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Through a toll-free telephone number, it operates The Trevor Lifeline, a...
. By October 2011, the total donations from Lambert’s fans reached one million dollars.
In January 2009, Lambert asked fans to donate in his name to DonorsChoose.org
DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose.org is a United States based nonprofit organization that provides a way for people to donate directly to specific projects at public schools ....
, an online education charity that allows the public to directly donate to school projects instead of giving him gifts for his 28th birthday. 2,435 fans showed their support, donating $322,700, which provided resources and supplies to nearly 332,527 students. In June 2010, Lambert again teamed up with DonorsChoose.org
DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose.org is a United States based nonprofit organization that provides a way for people to donate directly to specific projects at public schools ....
, and asked fans to join his Glam A Classroom campaign to support music and arts programs in high-need public schools. By the end of the campaign, 3,020 fans had donated $208,590, reaching 284,672 students, and bringing total contributions for DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose.org is a United States based nonprofit organization that provides a way for people to donate directly to specific projects at public schools ....
to $531,290.
In August 2009, Lambert and The Pennyroyal Studio collaborated the design of an Eye of Horus pendant with proceeds benefiting the MusiCares charity. Pennyroyal Studio collaborates with musicians, actors, and other public figures to raise money for charity with their Signature Collection designs. The sale of this Eye of Horus pendant raised $32,000 in 7 days. The pendant design was retired in August 2009.
In October 2010, Lambert collaborated a second Signature Collection design with The Pennyroyal Studio, the Infinity pendant, which raised $43,092 for the DonorsChoose.org
DonorsChoose
DonorsChoose.org is a United States based nonprofit organization that provides a way for people to donate directly to specific projects at public schools ....
charity. The pendant design was retired in October 2010.
In October 2010, Lambert released a link to his 1:36 minute It Gets Better PSA video message for gay teenagers. The message was recorded while Lambert was on his Glam Nation tour. In the 90-second clip, Lambert encouraged viewers to have pride in themselves and not allow bullies to win.
In January 2011, Lambert announced his charity: water
Charity: water
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Founded in 2006, it has helped fund 3,962 projects in 19 countries, benefiting over 1,794,983 people...
campaign on Twitter, initially setting a goal of $29,000 to commemorate his 29th birthday. Funds raised by charity: water
Charity: water
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Founded in 2006, it has helped fund 3,962 projects in 19 countries, benefiting over 1,794,983 people...
go towards bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Fans surpassed the goal set by Lambert in less than five hours, and donations reached $60,000 by the end of the next 24 hours. On Lambert’s actual birthday, more than $115,000 in donations came in. According to the charity, that amount broke the record for most donations in a single day, and crashed their servers. By the end of the campaign, Lambert’s fans had raised $323,803, which helped 16,190 people receive clean water.
In March 2011, after a performance on American Idol, Lambert announced that a Billboard remix version of “Aftermath”, a song featured on his debut album For Your Entertainment, would go on sale with a portion of the proceeds going to support The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 and the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Through a toll-free telephone number, it operates The Trevor Lifeline, a...
, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT youth.
In August 2011, Lambert collaborated a third Signature Collection design with The Pennyroyal Studio, a Peace pendant, which raised $43,500 for The Trevor Project charity before the pendant was retired in October 2011.
In August 2011, Equality California Los Angeles
Equality California
Equality California or EQCA is a non-profit civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people in California.-Early history:...
held their annual Equality Awards event honoring inspirational leaders, and allied organizations. Adam Lambert was honored with the group's ‘Equality Idol’ award for being an exemplary role model for the LGBT community. It was presented by Grammy nominated recording artist and producer, Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro is an Australian singer-songwriter, music producer, and former child actor. His stage name was derived from a family nickname, which in turn was inspired by the Dagenham radio mascot Sammy Sparrow...
.
In September 2011 PFLAG National Los Angeles held an event in honor of Leila Lambert and Adam Lambert. Each was presented with an award—an inverted triangle for Adam, a heart for Leila—which each make up a part of the PFLAG logo representing parental and familial love and support for LGBT people.
In October 2011, $2,100 in donations came in on behalf of the Adam Lambert Glambert Fan Army for the MTV Dance Party Marathon which raised funds to combat bullying in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign in the United States founded in 2006 by PACER's National Center for Bullying Prevention. The campaign is held during the month of October and unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention...
to be split between the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network is an organization in the United States that seeks to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in K-12 schools. GLSEN is headquartered in New York City and the District of Columbia...
, It Gets Better Project, The Gay Straight Alliance Network (GSA), Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
, The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 and the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Through a toll-free telephone number, it operates The Trevor Lifeline, a...
and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Personal life
Lambert is in a relationship with Finnish reality TV personality Sauli KoskinenSauli Koskinen
Sauli Koskinen is a Finnish reality star, radio personality, and entertainment reporter from Hyvinkää, Finland. Koskinen first rose to fame as the winner of Finnish Big Brother 2007....
.
Discography
- 2009: For Your EntertainmentFor Your Entertainment (album)For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009...
- 2012: Trespassing
Songs in other media
| Year | Title | Type | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2010 | General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... |
TV Series - Unknown episodes; Franco Franco (General Hospital) Robert "Franco" Frank is a fictional character on ABC's daytime drama General Hospital. He has been portrayed by James Franco since November 19, 2009 and was listed as special guest star before the opening credits. Franco left the role for a short time on January 11, 2010.James Franco returned to... 's theme song |
"Mad World" |
| 2010 | 2012 2012 (film) 2012 is a 2009 American disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich. It stars John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson. It was produced by Emmerich's production company, Centropolis Entertainment and was distributed by Columbia Pictures... |
Film, Film trailer | "Time for Miracles Time for Miracles "Time for Miracles" is Adam Lambert's second single. It was released on October 16, 2009 via Amazon.com. Although the song was his first since American Idol, it was not released as his official debut single. Instead, the title track to his album, For Your Entertainment, was released. The song is... " |
| America's Got Talent America's Got Talent America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of... |
TV series episode: 515 | "For Your Entertainment For Your Entertainment (song) "For Your Entertainment" is the debut mainstream single by American recording artist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert.... " |
|
| Dancing with the Stars Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 10) Dancing with the Stars returned for a tenth season on March 22, 2010. There was not an elimination the first week of competition. The first elimination took place on March 30.... |
TV series episode: "Week Four, Dances" | "For Your Entertainment For Your Entertainment (song) "For Your Entertainment" is the debut mainstream single by American recording artist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert.... " |
|
| The Hills The Hills The Hills is a reality television series which originally aired on MTV from May 31, 2006 until July 13, 2010. The show uses a reality television format, following the personal lives of several young adults living in Los Angeles, California, but tends towards a narrative format more commonly found... |
TV series episode: "Loves Me Not" | "If I Had You If I Had You (Adam Lambert song) "If I Had You" is a song by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. The song was written by Max Martin, Shellback, and Savan Kotecha and produced by Martin, Shellback and Kristian Lundin for Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment... " |
|
| TV series episode: "Rumor Has It" | "Whataya Want from Me Whataya Want from Me "Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by... " |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Young Hollywood Awards Young Hollywood Awards The Young Hollywood Awards is an award presented annually which honors the year's biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, as voted on by teenagers aged 13–19 and young adults. The award ceremonies also honor rising and promising young aged performers in Hollywood... |
Adam Lambert | Artist of the Year | |
| Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Adam Lambert | Choice Male Reality/Variety Star | ||
| American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 The American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 was a summer concert tour in the United States and Canada that featured the top 10 contestants of the eighth season of American Idol... |
Choice Summer Tour (shared with American Idol Top 10 American Idol (season 8) The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol... ) |
|||
| Adam Lambert | Choice Red Carpet Icon – Male | |||
| 2010 | People's Choice Awards 36th People's Choice Awards The 36th People's Choice Awards, honoring the best in popular culture for 2009, was held on January 6, 2010 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, and was broadcasted on CBS. Not all of the awards were presented on air during the show, as many including Favorite Movie were left out... |
Adam Lambert | Break-Out Musical Artist | |
| GLAAD Media Awards 21st GLAAD Media Awards The 21st GLAAD Media Awards was the 2010 annual presentation of the media awards presented by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The awards seek to honor films, television shows, musicians and works of journalism that fairly and accurately represent the LGBT community and issues... |
Adam Lambert | Outstanding Music Artist | ||
| MuchMusic Video Awards 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards The 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards were held in Toronto, Canada at MuchMusic's headquarters on June 20, 2010. Along with the MuchMusic VJ's, it was confirmed on the MuchMusic website that Miley Cyrus will co-host the show. The artists with the most nominations are Drake and Hedley with six. For the... |
"Whataya Want from Me Whataya Want from Me "Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by... " |
UR Fave International Video | ||
| Adam Lambert | International Video Of The Year – Artist | |||
| Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Adam Lambert | Choice Music: Male Artist | ||
| Billboard Japan Music Awards | Adam Lambert | Top Pop Artist 2010 | ||
| CMA Wild and Young Awards CMA Wild and Young Awards The Celebrity Magazine Wild and Young Awards is a teen awards show presented annually by the German magazine '!WANjK'. The first awards were held in 2008. The program honors the year's biggest achievements in music, movies, television, sports and more, as voted on by teens and a special jury.... |
Adam Lambert | Best International Singer | ||
| Adam Lambert | Best international Single: Whataya Want from Me | |||
| EMMA Award Finland | Adam Lambert | People's Choice | ||
| Grammy Awards 53rd Grammy Awards The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were... |
"Whataya Want from Me Whataya Want from Me "Whataya Want from Me" is the second mainstream single by American pop vocalist and American Idol season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. It is the second radio single release off his debut album, For Your Entertainment and his first ever top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was written by... " |
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance | ||
| 2011 | Fonogram - Hungarian Music Awards Hungarian Music Awards The Hungarian Music Awards have been given to artists in the field of Hungarian music since 1992.The Awards - formerly known as the Golden Giraffe Awards - has been made by Mahasz, the Hungarian music industry association... |
For Your Entertainment For Your Entertainment (album) For Your Entertainment is the debut studio album by Adam Lambert, the American Idol season 8 runner-up. It was released on November 23, 2009... |
International Modern Pop/Rock Album of the Year | |
| VH1's Do Something Awards Do Something Do Something is a non-profit organization that motivates young people to take action around social changes through national campaigns and grants for projects that make an impact. The organization's CEO is Nancy Lublin, who founded Dress for Success in 1996.-History:The organization was co-founded... |
Adam Lambert | Music Artist | ||
| MTV O Music Awards MTV O Music Awards The MTV Online, Open, Ongoing Music Awards, also known as the OMAs, are one of the major annual awards established by MTV to honor the art, creativity, personality and technology of music into the digital space. It uses a "spinoff" of the VMAs, but using online features, such as Twitter, YouTube,... |
Adam Lambert | Must Follow Artist on Twitter |
External links
- Adam Lambert at American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
- Adam Lambert: A Glamorous Life – a slideshow by Life magazine
- Wicked Good: Adam Lambert's American Idol Journey at Broadway.com
- MC alumnus Adam Lambert competes on American Idol; makes top 8 at MCSUN.org
- The Ten Commandments: The Musical, pictures and description of the show from Lanightlife.com