“I Never Thought I’d Be Able to Do It” – Adam Lambert’s Shocking “American Idol” Confession
In a recent interview with LGBTQIA+ culture site them, Adam Lambert shared his initial skepticism about participating in the popular singing competition American Idol. Lambert, who was openly gay since the age of 18, expressed that he had reservations about the show’s treatment of LGBTQIA+ contestants.
From Idol To Icon
“I never thought that it was a show that I’d be able to do,” Lambert admitted. He cited his background as a theater kid and his sexuality as reasons for his doubts, stating, “I’m gay, which never seemed to really land very well in that show. I mean, there definitely were a few, but they all kind of got not taken seriously.”
Despite his concerns, Lambert auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol in 2009 and secured a spot on the show. He quickly became a frontrunner, but his path took a turn when a photo of him kissing a former boyfriend at Burning Man surfaced. The image was heavily publicized by right-wing outlets, including Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, which aired the competition show.
When confronted about the photo, Lambert, the first openly gay male artist to top the Billboard album charts, remained unapologetic about his identity. While other LGBTQIA+ recording artists, including Elton John and George Michael, have had number one albums, these were prior to coming out publicly.
“I just said to a reporter, ‘Yeah. That’s me,'” he recounted. “That’s all I said.”
In the end, Adam finished as the runner-up to Kris Allen, who graciously declared, “Adam deserved this.” Since his time on American Idol, Lambert has achieved significant success in his career, touring with the legendary band Queen and releasing five solo albums, with his most recent, High Drama, dropping last year.
Lambert’s role as the frontman of Queen is particularly noteworthy, as he replaced Freddie Mercury, another iconic and beloved gay singer. Lambert has been collaborating with Queen as the lead vocalist for Queen + Adam Lambert since 2011, showcasing his incredible talent and helping to keep the band’s legacy alive.
