Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer and songwriter. Since 2009, he has sold over 3 million albums and 5 million singles worldwide.
Lambert is known for his dynamic vocal performances that fuse his theatrical training with modern and classic genres.
Lambert rose to fame in 2009 after finishing as runner-up on the
eighth season of ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
''. Later that year, he released his debut album ''
For Your Entertainment'', which debuted at number three on the U.S.
''Billboard'' 200.
The album spawned several singles, including "
Whataya Want from Me", for which he received a Grammy nomination for "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance".
In 2012, Lambert released his second studio album ''
Trespassing
Trespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person, trespass to chattels, and trespass to land.
Trespass to the person historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery, wounding, ...
''. The album premiered at number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200, making him the first openly gay artist to top the album charts. In 2015, Lambert released his third album ''
The Original High
''The Original High'' is the third studio album by American singer Adam Lambert, released on June 12, 2015, by Warner Bros. Records. Its executive producers are Max Martin and Shellback, the duo responsible for co-writing and producing Lambert' ...
'', which debuted at number three on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 and produced the single "
Ghost Town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...
".
Alongside his solo career, Lambert has collaborated with rock band
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
as lead vocalist for
Queen + Adam Lambert
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mothe ...
since 2011, including several worldwide tours from 2014 to 2022. Their first album, ''
Live Around the World'', released in October 2020, and debuted at number one on the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
.
In late 2019, Lambert founded the non-profit Feel Something Foundation, anchoring his ongoing philanthropy, LGBTQ+ and human rights activism. Its particular focus is support for organizations and projects that directly and disproportionately impact the LGBTQ+ community, including education and the arts, mental health, suicide prevention and homelessness.
Early life and family
Lambert was born in
Indianapolis, Indiana, on January 29, 1982,
to mother Leila, a
dental hygienist
A dental hygienist or oral hygienist is a licensed dental professional, registered with a dental association or regulatory body within their country of practice. Prior to completing clinical and written board examinations, registered dental hygien ...
; and father Eber Lambert, a
program manager for Novatel Wireless. His father is of partial Norwegian descent and his mother is Jewish, with roots in Romania. Lambert was raised in his mother's religion.
He has a younger brother, Neil.
Shortly after his birth, his family moved to San Diego, California.
Lambert began performing with Metropolitan Educational Theatre network (now MET2) from the age of nine.
A few years later, he began more intense acting and vocal coaching, continuing to perform with both MET2 and what was to become the Broadway Bound Youth Theatre Foundation, as he moved through
Mesa Verde Middle School and then
Mount Carmel High School.
There, he became heavily involved with theater and choir, performed vocals with the school's jazz band, and competed in the local Air Bands competitions.
He also appeared in local professional productions such as ''
Hello, Dolly!'', ''
Camelot'', ''
The Music Man'', ''
Grease'', ''
Chess
Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...
'' and ''
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...
'', at venues such as The Starlight, The Lyceum and others.
After graduating from high school in 2000, he attended
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF or Cal State Fullerton) is a public university in Fullerton, California. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) ...
. His major was musical theater, but left after five weeks to move to Los Angeles: "I just decided that what I really wanted to do was try to work in the real entertainment world. Life is all about taking risks to get what you want."
Career
2001–2008: Career beginnings
At 19, Lambert got his first professional job, performing on a cruise ship for ten months with
Anita Mann Productions. Afterwards, he performed in light opera in Orange County, California. By 21, he was signed with a manager and cast in a European tour of ''
Hair''.
In 2004, he appeared in the
Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) production of ''
Brigadoon'' and a
Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...
production of ''
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, ...
'',
before being cast in the role of Joshua in ''
The Ten Commandments: The Musical'' at the
Kodak Theatre alongside
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer (born December 31, 1959) is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer found fame after appearances in comedy films, starting with ''Top Secret!'' (1984) and ''Real Genius'' (1985), as well as the military action film ...
. He came to the attention of the casting director for ''
Wicked
Wicked may refer to:
Books
* Wicked, a minor character in the ''X-Men'' universe
* '' Wicked'', a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name
* ''Wicked'', the fifth novel in Sara Shepard's ''Pretty Little Liars'' s ...
'', and was hired as the understudy for the role of
Fiyero and an ensemble member in the first national touring production of the musical from 2005, and the Los Angeles production from 2007. He finished performances with the musical in 2008.
During this same period, Lambert briefly fronted underground rock band The Citizen Vein with Steve Sidelnyk,
Tommy Victor
Thomas M. Victor (born 1961/1962) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for heavy metal band Prong, which he founded in New York City in 1986, as well as the guitarist for ...
and
Monte Pittman.
He also worked as a demo singer and a
session musician; a compilation of his 2005 recordings were released in 2009 on the album ''
Take One''.
2009: ''American Idol''
Lambert auditioned for the
eighth season of ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
'' in San Francisco, California by singing "
Rock with You
"Rock with You" was written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. It was first offered to Karen Carpenter, while she was working on her first solo album, but she turned it down. It was released on November 3, 1979, by Epic Records as ...
" and "
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released as the lead single from their fourth album, '' A Night at the Opera'' (1975). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, the song is a six-minute suite, notable for its lack o ...
".
Advancing to Hollywood week, he performed "
What's Up" and "
Believe" solo, and "
Some Kind of Wonderful" in the group effort.
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell (; born 7 October 1959) is an English television personality, entrepreneur and record executive. He is the creator of '' The X Factor'' and ''Got Talent'' franchises which have been sold around the world. He has judged on ...
voiced some concern about his theatricality, but
Randy Jackson found it "current".
He advanced easily to the top 36 performing "
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".
In the first week of live shows, his rendition of
Michael Jackson's "
Black or White
"Black or White" is a single by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 11, 1991, as the first single from Jackson's eighth studio album, '' Dangerous'' (1991). Jackson wrote, composed, and produced it w ...
" was praised by all four judges.
For
Country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...
week, he sang a sitar-infused version of "
Ring of Fire". His
Motown night acoustic version of
The Miracles' "
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. It is a multiple award-winning 1965 hit R&B song originally recorded by their group, The Miracles, on Motown's Tamla label. The Miracles' million-sell ...
" drew praise from judges and a standing ovation from
Smokey Robinson, the week's mentor. Advancing to the top 8, he sang the 2001
Michael Andrews and
Gary Jules
Gary Jules Aguirre Jr. (born March 19, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, known primarily for his cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with his friend Michael Andrews for the film ''Donnie Darko''. It ...
arrangement of "
Mad World
"Mad World" is a 1982 song by 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 number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. Bo ...
". Because the show exceeded its time slot, only Cowell gave a critique, which he did by giving Lambert a standing ovation, the only one he bestowed during his decade-long run as an ''American Idol'' judge.
After Lambert sang "
If I Can't Have You", delivering what DioGuardi called his "most memorable performance", Cowell described his vocals as "immaculate". For the top 3 show, he performed "
One" before Cowell declared, "If you are not in the final next week, it will be one of the biggest upsets"; and continued with "
Cryin'
"Cryin'" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Taylor Rhodes. It was released by Geffen Records on June 20, 1993, as a single from their 11th studio album, ''Get a Grip''. The single rea ...
" before Abdul affirmed, "we'll be seeing you next week and many years after that".
In March 2009, photos of Lambert kissing another man while dressed in drag at
Burning Man surfaced online. Highlighted as controversial, they were displayed by conservative commentators on ''
The O'Reilly Factor
''The O'Reilly Factor'' (originally titled ''The O'Reilly Report'' and also known as ''The Factor'') is an American cable television news and talk show. ''The O'Reilly Factor'' first aired in the United States on Fox News Channel on October 7 ...
'', who called them "embarrassing" and questioned if the images would have an effect on the program.
Fox restricted press access to Lambert and to his family following the outing.
Despite conservative backlash, outlets such as the New York Times and ABC news speculated that Lambert would be too popular to lose the competition.
Upon the announcement of Lambert as runner-up, ''American Idol'' pundits, gay bloggers, and LGBT news outlets reassessed these claims, noting that his queerness may have alienated conservative viewers.
Lambert performed three solos in the finale, a reprise of "Mad World", followed by the 1960s civil rights anthem "
A Change Is Gonna Come", to tremendously positive judge reaction. After his performance of the mandatory winner's single, "
No Boundaries" Cowell summed up Lambert's journey: "Over the entire season, you've been one of the best, most original contestants we've ever had on the show. The hope and whole idea of a show like this is to find a worldwide star, and I truly believe we've found that in you".
Upon winning the competition,
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil Allen (born June 21, 1985) is an American singer and songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of ''American Idol''.
Prior to ''Idol'', he self-released a 2007 album, ''Brand New Shoes''.
Allen's ' ...
stated: "Adam deserved this", later explaining 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".
Lambert's version of the winner's single was released alongside Allen's. ''
The Los Angeles Times
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'' later ranked Lambert fifth in its list of the top 120 American Idol contestants, selected from the first nine seasons of the show, above Allen.
*
Due to the judges using their one save to save Matt Giraud, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.
Lambert performed "
Mad World
"Mad World" is a 1982 song by 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 number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. Bo ...
" on ''
The Early Show
''The Early Show'' is an American morning television show that aired on CBS from November 1, 1999 to January 7, 2012, and the ninth attempt at a morning news-talk program by the network since 1954. The program aired Monday through Friday from ...
'' and ''
Live with Regis and Kelly''. He began the
American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 in July and that summer was also the recipient of two awards: the
Young Hollywood Award
The Young Hollywood Awards was awards presented annually which honored the year's biggest achievements in pop music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, as voted on by teenagers aged 13–19 and young adults. The award ceremonies also hon ...
for Artist of the Year and the
Teen Choice Award for Male Reality/Variety Star.
2009–2011: ''For Your Entertainment'' and touring
''
For Your Entertainment'', Lambert's first studio album, was released on November 23, 2009. Debuting at number three on the
''Billboard'' 200 and selling 198,000 copies in the US its first week,
the album saw Lambert in collaboration with producers such as
Rob Cavallo,
Dr. Luke and
. Album writers included
Matthew Bellamy,
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder (born June 26, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. As well as being the lead vocalist of the pop rock band OneRepublic, he has an independent career as a songwriter and producer for various artists since th ...
,
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo ( ; born June 13, 1970) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter of the rock band Weezer.
Cuomo was raised in a number of Buddhist communities in the Northeast U.S. until the age of 10, wh ...
,
Justin Hawkins
Justin David Hawkins (born 17 March 1975) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and YouTube personality best known for being the founder, lead singer, and lead guitarist of The Darkness. He was influenced by rock bands of the 1970s and ...
,
P!nk,
Linda Perry
Linda Perry (born April 15, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, and has since founded two record labels and composed and produced hit songs for ...
and
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
. At
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...
, the album received a score of 71, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". ''
Spin'' said the album is "perhaps the strongest, most flavorful batch of tunes to reach an ''AI'' vet, and Lambert's polymorphous vocal skills unite dancefloor strut and hard-rock pomp in a convincing glam package". ''Rolling Stone'', however, gave it a more mixed review: "The songs sound great but feel strangely stuffy—
tseems like a disc that was overthought. Next time, the hugely talented Lambert should make sure he's going straight for the gut."
Its
Claude Kelly
Claude Kelly (born December 27, 1980)Shirley Halperin and Bob Love"THR Names Music's 35 Top Hitmakers,"''The Hollywood Reporter'', February 6, 2013. is an American singer, songwriter and music producer. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, a ...
and
Dr. Luke-produced lead single "
For Your Entertainment" preceded the album's release but was not as successful as its second single "
Whataya Want from Me" which impacted on charts worldwide, became his highest-peaking single (at number 10) on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, and was nominated for the
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was a Grammy Award recognizing superior vocal performance by a male in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. It was discontinued after the 2011 Grammy season. The award wen ...
at the
53rd awards ceremony. Another notable single was "
Time for Miracles", the ending theme for the disaster movie ''
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...
''. , ''For Your Entertainment'' has sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide
and was
certified gold in the US in June 2010.
On November 22, Lambert performed "
For Your Entertainment" at the ''
American Music Awards of 2009''. The controversial performance, which was the night's finale, showed Lambert kissing a male bassist and grabbing the crotch of another.
In response, the
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television and Media Council (PTMC), formerly the Parents Television Council (PTC), is an American media advocacy group founded by conservative Christian activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995, which advocates for what it considers ...
, a conservative decency group urged viewers to complain to the FCC and launched a formal complaint—though the performance aired "outside the FCC's usual 6am-10pm time frame prohibiting the broadcast of indecent material".
ABC received about 1,500 telephoned complaints and canceled Lambert's performance of November 25 on ''
Good Morning America'', his upcoming performance on ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', and removed him from consideration for ''
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
''Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve'' (''NYRE'') is an annual New Year's Eve television special broadcast by ABC. The special broadcasts primarily from New York City's Times Square and prominently features coverage of its annual ball drop ev ...
''. Discussing the incident in a ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' interview, Lambert stated: "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."
Lambert returned to the AMAs two years later as a presenter, and was warmly received. 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." Lambert's performance was included in Billboard's list of "Top Ten American Music Awards Moments" on the eve of its 40th anniversary, in November 2012.
In the months leading to his album release, Lambert appeared on the cover of magazines such as ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
'' in May 2009, ''Rolling Stone'' in June 2009 and ''
Details'' in November 2009. 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 2009 "Out 100" issue, sparking controversy as ''Out'' publisher issued him an open letter questioning the "gayness" of his image. In April, he became one of
People Magazine's Most Beautiful People 2010.
He was chosen for
''Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009'', and interviewed on the show of December 10. In late 2009, he performed on the ''
Late Show with David Letterman'', ''
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien'', the season finale of ''
So You Think You Can Dance
''So You Think You Can Dance'' is a franchise of reality television shows in which contestants compete in dance. The first series of the franchise, created by '' Idols'' producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, premiered in July 2005 and ha ...
'',''
The Jay Leno Show'' and ''
The Oprah Winfrey Show
''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', often referred to as ''The Oprah Show'' or simply ''Oprah'', is an American daytime syndicated talk show that aired nationally for 25 seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois. Produced ...
''. He performed his first official solo concert, which sold-out, at
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.
In April 2010, Lambert returned to ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
'' as the first former contestant to mentor during an
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
themed week, where he also performed. In June, he appeared on Canada's
MuchMusic Video Awards to receive the UR Fav International Video award for "
Whataya Want from Me".
In early June 2010, Lambert embarked on his debut headlining ''
Glam Nation Tour
The Glam Nation Tour (also known as GlamNation International) was the first headlining concert tour by American singer/songwriter Adam Lambert in support of his debut album, '' For Your Entertainment''. The tour included over 100 shows in North A ...
'', playing in the United States, Europe and Asia for 113 shows, nearly all of them sold out. The Indianapolis show was filmed for Lambert's first video release ''
Glam Nation Live'', a 13-track CD with DVD. The concert, which MTV called "out of this world", and his subsequent video release, were well-received, with
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
saying it "sizzles" with the energy that Lambert's vocals bring in a live concert setting. ''Glam Nation Live'' debuted at number one on the
SoundScan
Luminate (formerly Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen Music Products, and MRC Data) is a provider of music sales data. Established by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett in 1991, data is collected weekly and made available every Sunday (for albums sales) and eve ...
Music Video chart and landed at number 12 on ''
Billboard''s 2011 year-end music video sales chart. This followed the release of his first extended play, ''
Acoustic Live!'', consisting of acoustic versions of songs recorded live in various countries. The EP garnered excellent reviews and was called "electrifying" by the
New York Daily News.
In August, he was profiled in an hour-long documentary for
VH1's ''
Behind the Music
''Behind the Music'' is a documentary television series on VH1. Each episode profiles and interviews a popular musical artist or group. The program examines the beginning of their career, their road to success, and the hardships they may have ...
'' series; and later in the year mentored for a second time on
The Hub TV Network's ''
Majors & Minors'', coaching singing contestants who were children. In November 2011, Lambert joined
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
as the lead singer at the
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an a ...
, where the band was honored with the Global Icon Award and they performed a medley of classic hits.
2012–2013: ''Trespassing''
Lambert changed management from
19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment is a producer of entertainment properties for television with a focus on music. Founded by Simon Fuller in London in 1985, the company co-produced ''Pop Idol'' in the United Kingdom with Thames Television in 2001. The ''Idol serie ...
to Direct Management Group in August 2011. The title track of his second studio album, ''
Trespassing
Trespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person, trespass to chattels, and trespass to land.
Trespass to the person historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery, wounding, ...
'', was co-written with
Pharrell Williams; while the album's lead single, "
Better Than I Know Myself
"Better Than I Know Myself" is a song by American recording artist Adam Lambert from his second studio album, ''Trespassing''. The song was released as the album's lead single on December 20, 2011. It was released to US mainstream radio on January ...
", a collaboration with
Dr. Luke and
Claude Kelly
Claude Kelly (born December 27, 1980)Shirley Halperin and Bob Love"THR Names Music's 35 Top Hitmakers,"''The Hollywood Reporter'', February 6, 2013. is an American singer, songwriter and music producer. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, a ...
, was released digitally on December 20, 2011.
''Trespassing'' was released on May 15, 2012, to positive reviews.
On May 23, the album debuted at number one on the
''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 77,000 copies. and at number three in United Kingdom's midweek chart.
His second single "
Never Close Our Eyes
"Never Close Our Eyes" is a song by American singer Adam Lambert from his second studio album, ''Trespassing''. The song was released as the album's second single on April 14, 2012. It was written and produced by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari ...
", written by
Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his stage performances, retro showmanship, and for performing in a wide range of musical ...
and produced by Dr. Luke, was released digitally on April 17, to positive reviews. Lambert returned to ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
'' for his third consecutive year on the results show that preceded Idol's final week. The performance of May 17 of "Never Close Our Eyes" was touted for its vibrant energy and dazzle, as well as for the powerhouse vocals that had become his signature.
Throughout the spring and summer of 2012, Lambert performed across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, appearing in festivals, on radio and television, and in concert, including one of several headlining spots at
Summer Sonic Festival
The , also known as Supersonic, is an annual two- or three-day rock festival held at the same time in Osaka and Chiba, Japan. The majority of the bands playing in Osaka the first day go to Chiba the following day and vice versa. The line-up co ...
2012. In September, he appeared on the finale of ''
The Voice of China
''The Voice of China'' () is a Chinese reality television singing competition broadcast on Zhejiang Television. Based on the original ''The Voice of Holland'', the concept of the series is to find new singing talent (solo or duets) contested by as ...
'', the country's most popular program.
Lambert joined Queen for a six concert date collaboration, kicking off with a two-hour extravaganza under the auspices of the
UEFA
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA ; french: Union des associations européennes de football; german: Union der europäischen Fußballverbände) is one of six continental bodies of governance in association football. It governs f ...
in
Kyiv on June 30, the eve of the
Euro 2012 Football Championship. Viewed live by hundreds of thousands in
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
's main square, the performance was touted for the strength of Lambert's showmanship, vocal excellence and interpretative skill, which confidently balanced old and new. Almost uniformly, reviews noted Lambert's vocals, his "sizzle" and "electrifying" presence; along with the synergy of the collaboration, which Brian May called "organic".
Lambert's third single, "Trespassing", was released as part of an eight track EP of remixes that included a radio edit of the original song. Entitled ''Trespassing Remixes'', it became available to radio and digital outlets in October, with hard copies sold from his official website only. "Trespassing" debuted at number one on the ''
Billboard''
Hot Dance Singles Sales
In the issue dated March 16, 1985, ''Billboard'' magazine debuted its first chart devoted exclusively to 12-inch Singles Sales. The 50-position weekly ranking joined ''Billboard''s established Club Songs chart, reduced to the same 50 positions, ...
chart, giving Lambert his tenth number one ''Billboard'' entry.
On October 23, Lambert acted and performed two songs from ''Trespassing'' in the Halloween special of the television series ''
Pretty Little Liars
''Pretty Little Liars'' is an American mystery teen drama television series based on the novel series of the same name written by Sara Shepard. Developed by I. Marlene King, the series was broadcast on Freeform between June 8, 2010, and June ...
''.
Lambert appeared for the first time in South Africa in November, headlining arena concerts in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
and
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...
. South Africa's ''
The Sunday Times'' called Lambert's Johannesburg performance "epic" and "electrifying", stating: "His voice is stunning and his entertainment factor is through the roof." Later that month he was in Hong Kong delivering a "powerful performance" at the 2012
Mnet Asian Music Awards (2012 MAMA.)
The album ''Trespassing'' was rewarded in year end lists and polls, among them best album of the year at ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'', number three at Billboard for "Favorite 200 No.1" albums, and number eight on ''
People
A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...
'' magazine's list of "Top Ten Music" in its year end issue. Queen + Adam Lambert was named best live act of 2012 at
Gigwise, and one of ''
Classic Rock'' magazine's top events of the year.
Lambert left 19 Recordings when his contract expired, but remained with
RCA Records
RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...
. On February 17, the newly dubbed "We Are Glamily Tour" kicked off in
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
, with seventeen stops throughout Asia and Europe.
His first solo concert in Hong Kong on March 5 was noted for the live debut of two songs, "
Time for Miracles" and a cover of "
Shout", called "stunning" and vocally impressive.
Lambert won the "Favorite International Artist" category at the
STAR TV Star TV may refer to:
* E! (Canadian TV channel) (formerly Star!), a Canadian entertainment news channel
* Las Estrellas (Spanish for The Stars), the Mexican television network
* Estrella TV (Spanish for Star TV), the American Spanish-language net ...
17th
Chinese Music Awards
The Chinese Music Awards () is a music awards founded in 2008 to recognize outstanding achievement in the Chinese music industry. Categories
* Top 10 Mandarin Albums
* Top 10 Cantonese Albums
* Top 10 Mandarin Songs
* Top 10 Cantonese Songs
* Bes ...
held in
Macau
Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a p ...
in April, also performing two songs from ''Trespassing''. Lambert also appeared as a guest judge during auditions on ''Chinese Idol''.
On May 11, Lambert for his album ''Trespassing'' along with
Frank Ocean for
Channel Orange
''Channel Orange'' (stylized as ''channel ORANGE'') is the debut studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Frank Ocean. It was released on July 10, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings. After releasing his mixtape '' Nostalgia, Ultra'' the previous ...
were co-recipients of the award for Outstanding Music Artist at the
24th GLAAD Media Awards The 24th GLAAD Media Awards was the 2013 annual presentation of the GLAAD Media Awards, presented by GLAADThe Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation was formally renamed ''GLAAD'' on March 24, 2013, in between the first and second award ceremonie ...
.
He returned to ''American Idol'' on May 16 for the fourth consecutive year, performing a duet with
Angie Miller on the
twelfth season finale of ''American Idol'', where Miller was a finalist in the top three. The pair tackled the song "
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Found in nature only as an oxide, it can be reduced to produce a lustrous transition metal with a silver color, low density, and high strength, resista ...
".
In a letter sent to ''The Hollywood Reporter'' on July 12, Lambert revealed that he would be leaving RCA due to "creative differences" centering most directly on his next release. With RCA "pushing" for a covers album, Lambert stated: "my heart is simply not in doing a covers album ... I am already deep into writing new material with some very talented colleagues for a brand new album, and I can't tell you how excited I am to share this new sound and direction. This music is where my heart is".
Lambert unveiled a collaboration with
Nile Rodgers and DJ-producer
Avicii when the three appeared onstage together for the track's US debut at an August benefit concert on
Long Island.
The song, entitled "Lay Me Down", released on Avicii's debut album ''
TRUE'' on September 17 in the US, though it had already begun climbing charts worldwide. It received wide acclaim in previews, and landed at number one on a compilation of ''Rolling Stone''s favorite songs, albums and videos.
Lambert and Queen made their first live concert appearance in the United States, closing the night on September 20, at the 2013
iHeartRadio Music Festival at the
MGM Grand Arena. Reviews for the performance were stellar, with ''Rolling Stone'' stating that they dominated night one, also calling them most anticipated act of the evening, with Lambert "astound
ngthe audience". ''Billboard'' was equally laudatory, remarking on the "magnetic power" of the vocals, adding that Lambert "oozed charisma".
Lambert made his debut on the fifth season of ''
Glee'' on November 7, playing the role of Elliot "Starchild" Gilbert in what became a multi-episode arc. His rendition of
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
's "
Marry the Night
"Marry the Night" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga for her second studio album, '' Born This Way'' (2011). The track was initially released for promotion on '' FarmVille'', six days before the release of ''Born This ...
" was released prior to air date, garnering publicity and positive reviews. Accolades for Lambert's debut spotlighted his powerful vocals and dynamic presence. His remake of "Marry the Night" impacted ''
Billboard'' the following week, debuting at number 39 on the Pop Digital Songs chart.
Lambert was in attendance to receive two awards at China's Huading Music Awards, Best International Male Vocalist and the Fan Choice Award, on December 18 in Shanghai. Lambert tied at number three on ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...
'' annual list of top earning American Idols, due to his live performances and other endeavors.
2014–2018: ''The Original High'' and Queen + Adam Lambert
In February 2014, Lambert returned to ''American Idol'', where he was a guest mentor during
Randy Jackson's two-night "Boot Camp" workshop. He was a guest judge on the season 6 premiere of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...
'' the following week. ''Glee'' returned on February 25 with the episode "
Frenemies" featuring Lambert in a performance of
The Darkness's "
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is a song by English rock band the Darkness, released as the third single from their debut studio album, '' Permission to Land''. When released as a single in September 2003, it peaked at number two on the U ...
".
On May 27, 2014, a
compilation album ''The Very Best of Adam Lambert'' was released by
Sony Legacy's ''Playlist'' series, featuring recordings from Lambert's two studio albums along with studio recordings from ''American Idol'' and ''Glee''. It debuted on the ''Billboard'' Top Internet Albums chart at number 14.
Lambert started touring with Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen in June 2014, with 35 dates in North America, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. It was a critical and commercial success, as reviews highlighted the musical virtuosity of May and Taylor, alongside Lambert's impressive vocal dexterity, charisma and affinity with Queen's repertoire – all augmented by the elaborate spectacle of the production. In 2015, a second leg of eleven countries and 26 dates in Europe and the UK was performed. On November 4, Queen + Adam Lambert was named Band of the Year at the 10th annual
Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards.
Following a much reviewed "soaring" performance on the UK's ''
X Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003) ...
'', Lambert and Queen presented an exclusive New Year's Eve concert in London at Central Hall Westminster,
Queen + Adam Lambert Rock Big Ben Live. The praised concert was called "pitch-perfect". In January, Queen + Adam Lambert appeared on the cover of ''
Classic Rock'' magazine; he was applauded in the cover story by Taylor and May, who called him "a gift from god". In September, Queen and Lambert headlined
Rock in Rio
''Rock in Rio'' is a recurring music festival originating in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It later branched into other locations such as Lisbon, Madrid and Las Vegas.
Nine incarnations of the festival have been held in Rio de Janeiro, in 1985, 1991, ...
's "30 Years Celebration" in Brazil, as part of a six date South American tour. The tour was a critical success; and their Rock in Rio performance was the seven-day festival's most popular, based on ticket sales.
On January 15, 2015, Lambert became the first former contestant to appear as a guest judge on ''American Idol'' at the
fourteenth season's New York City auditions, filling in for
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
. That same day, Lambert revealed in a ''Billboard'' interview that he signed to
Warner Bros. Records within twenty-four hours after announcing his departure from RCA. He further stated that his upcoming studio release, scheduled for early summer with a single out in April, would be executive produced by the Swedish songwriter-producers
and
Shellback.
Promotion for the new album, ''
The Original High
''The Original High'' is the third studio album by American singer Adam Lambert, released on June 12, 2015, by Warner Bros. Records. Its executive producers are Max Martin and Shellback, the duo responsible for co-writing and producing Lambert' ...
'', began with a series of magazine cover stories, television appearances and teasers of the lead single, "
Ghost Town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...
", prior to its release on April 21, 2015. Also notable was "Ghost Town"'s performance at the 2015
Logo
A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wo ...
Trailblazer Honors; and its performance in early August on Australia's ''
The Voice
The Voice may refer to:
Fictional entities
* The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics
* The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe
* The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
''. ''
Spin'' named it one of 2015's best songs so far; and ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' stated it "was perhaps his best single to date." "Ghost Town" entered the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 73, and charted on the ''Billboard''
Adult Top 40
The Adult Pop Airplay (formerly known as Adult Pop Songs and Adult Top 40) chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and ranks "the most popular adult top 40 as based on radio airplay detections measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems ...
. It reached 100 million
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...
streams in early December 2015 and was
certified gold
Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
in the US on January 15, 2016.
''The Original High'' debuted at number three on the
''Billboard'' 200 selling 42,000 albums and moving 47,000 total units, including track and streaming equivalent albums. Lambert garnered his first top ten album in the United Kingdom, with a number eight debut on the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
. As with "Ghost Town", reviews were largely positive.
The Original High Tour
The Original High Tour was the third solo (sixth overall) concert tour by American singer/songwriter Adam Lambert, launched in support of his third studio album, ''The Original High''. The tour began on December 31, 2015 in Singapore and continue ...
commenced in January 2016 with six dates in Australia and New Zealand and seven dates in Japan.
On August 29, Lambert received the award for Best Foreign Artist at the 2015 Eska Music Awards held in
Szczecin, Poland. On the 30th, he made his first UK festival appearance, performing a set at Fusion Festival 2015 in
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
.
In early October, Lambert released "
Another Lonely Night". It debuted live as the new single at
538LIVE XXL at the
Ziggo Dome
The Ziggo Dome ( or ) is an indoor arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands, located next to the Johan Cruijff ArenA. It is named after the Dutch cable TV provider Ziggo. In 2014, the Ziggo Dome Awards were announced, recognizing artists who performed at ...
in Amsterdam, and a few days later on ''
X Factor Australia''. Twenty dates were then added to "The Original High Tour" to include thirteen European countries; "RedFest DXB", a two-day music festival, in
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
; and two dates in China. The tour commenced at No. Celebrate2016 in
The Float at Marina Bay, Singapore on December 31, 2015. In November, an online petition supported by conservative groups was launched to remove Lambert from the Singapore program, citing his controversial performance at the AMA's in 2009, and active support for LGBT rights. He was not removed from the headlining spot, but it was reiterated that his performance would conform to strict broadcast regulations.
Throughout the fall, Lambert continued appearances in the US, Europe and Asia. Notable performances included ''
Today
Today (archaically to-day) may refer to:
* Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now''
* Current era, present
* The current calendar date
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...
'', ''
Swedish Idol'', ''
The Voice of Poland
''The Voice of Poland'' is a Polish reality talent show that premiered on September 3, 2011, on the TVP 2 television network. ''The Voice of Poland'' is part of the international syndication '' The Voice'' based on the reality singing competition ...
'' and
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...
's ''
Strictly Come Dancing'', as a musical guest. After participating in a ''
Billboard'' news conference in Beijing announcing the inclusion of China in its music charts, he was the guest performer at
Alibaba's
Singles' Day
The Singles' Day () or Double 11 (), originally called Bachelors' Day, is a Chinese unofficial holiday and shopping season that celebrates people who are not in a relationship. The date, 11 November (11/11), was chosen because the numeral 1 res ...
event. On December 2, he performed at the
CMT "Artists of the Year" special to honor
Little Big Town
Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group from Homewood, Alabama. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its founding: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman (née Roads), Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbr ...
and their controversial song "
Girl Crush" in a duet with
Leona Lewis. The performance was nominated for "Performance of the Year" at the 2016
CMT Music Awards.
Lambert received several year end accolades, among them a number one in ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...
'' yearly earnings ranking of ''American Idol'' contestants; and the top spot in ''Rolling Stone''s "The Ten Best Albums of 2015" readers' poll, with the publication noting his "vocals are as massive as his performances." In January 2016, twenty-three US dates were added to "The Original High Tour", bringing it to 56 dates worldwide. In mid-January, Lambert partnered with
Oreo
Oreo () (stylized as OREO) is a brand of sandwich cookie consisting of two biscuits or cookie pieces with a sweet creme filling. It was introduced by Nabisco on March 6, 1912, and through a series of corporate acquisitions, mergers and split ...
to launch a diversity focused global ad campaign, "Open Up", featuring his vocals in an animated spot. In February, he featured in the finale tribute to
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
at
Clive Davis and
The Recording Academy's pre-
Grammy event. In March, he debuted "Welcome to the Show" in the final
fifteenth season of ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
.'' The next week, the DJ produced
Steve Aoki and
Felix Jaehn
Felix Kurt Jähn (born 28 August 1994), known professionally as Felix Jaehn (), is a German DJ and music producer specializing in tropical house. He achieved international success with his remix of Omi's song "Cheerleader", which topped the char ...
track "Can't Go Home" debuted, with Lambert as the featured vocalist.
In May 2016, Lambert became the new face of
Macy's
Macy's (originally R. H. Macy & Co.) is an American chain of high-end department stores founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy. It became a division of the Cincinnati-based Federated Department Stores in 1994, through which it is affiliated wi ...
lifestyle brand, I.N.C. International Concepts, and a participant in its "American Icons" summer campaign.
Queen + Adam Lambert headlined
Rock in Rio
''Rock in Rio'' is a recurring music festival originating in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It later branched into other locations such as Lisbon, Madrid and Las Vegas.
Nine incarnations of the festival have been held in Rio de Janeiro, in 1985, 1991, ...
Lisbon,
Sweden Rock Festival,
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a British music festival which takes place annually in Newport on the Isle of Wight, England. It was originally a counterculture event held from 1968 to 1970.
The 1970 event was by far the largest of these early ...
, and twelve more European festivals and shows in May and June 2016. In September, they headlined the 2016
Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, performed one date in
Tel Aviv, three dates in Tokyo, and one each in
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...
, Hong Kong, Shanghai and
Taipei
Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
as part of an Asia Tour. In June, Lambert joined the judging panel for the eighth season of ''
The X Factor Australia''.
Lambert released his first independent, self-produced music video in July to accompany "Welcome to the Show". He performed
Faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people ofte ...
on the season finale of
ABC's ''Greatest Hits'' in August. Lambert is featured on the single "Broken", released in August by DJ/producers
Tritonal
Tritonal is a mixture of 80% TNT and 20% aluminium powder, used in several types of ordnance such as air-dropped bombs. The aluminium improves the total heat output and hence impulse of the TNT — the length of time during which the blas ...
in collaboration with producer Jenaux.
In October, Lambert co-starred in the television remake of ''
The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'' ''The X Factor Australia'' wrapped its 2016 season in November, with a member of Lambert's team declared the winner. In December, he performed a duet with finalist
Saara Aalto
Saara Sofia Aalto (born 2 May 1987) is a Finnish singer, songwriter, and voice actress. In 2012 she came second in the first season of '' The Voice of Finland''.
In 2016 Aalto finished as the runner-up in the thirteenth series of ''The X Fac ...
on ''
The X Factor UK'' finale, and presented the award for British Artist of the Year on the
BBC Music Awards
The BBC Music Awards were the BBC's annual pop music awards, held every December, as a celebration of the musical achievements over the past twelve months. The event was coordinated by the BBC's music division, BBC Music. Held between 2014 and ...
2016 live telecast. Lambert featured on the soundtrack album of
DreamWorks Animation's ''
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie'' with "
Think
In their most common sense, the terms thought and thinking refer to conscious cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem solving, an ...
", released in June 2017.
Queen + Adam Lambert commenced
a worldwide arena tour on June 23, 2017, in
Glendale, Arizona consisting of dates in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The group appeared on ''
The Late Late Show with James Corden'' with Lambert and
Corden having a sing-off to be the Queen frontman. Lambert and Queen performed a mini-concert on ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', with a four-song
set list
A set list, or setlist, is typically a handwritten or printed document created as an ordered list of songs, jokes, stories and other elements an artist intends to present during a specific performance.
A setlist can be made of nearly any materi ...
that included the debut of a new track from Lambert entitled "
Two Fux
"Two Fux" is a song by American singer-songwriter Adam Lambert. The song was written by Big Taste, Adam Lambert, Sarah Hudson, Ferras and Trey Campbell, with production handled by Mzwetwo and Big Taste. It was released to digital retailers on Ju ...
". Early reviews for the shows were strongly positive, highlighting both the synergy of the collaboration, which ''
Billboard'' stated was perhaps the most "serendipitous fusion of two established recording acts" since Fleetwood Mac; and the emergence of something new, moving the band forward.
"Two Fux" was released to digital retailers on June 30, with reviews that were similarly positive:
Yahoo! Music called it "a delightfully attitudinal rock 'n' roll waltz" exhibiting a highly confident "almost superhuman" Lambert. ''
Esquire'' stated the song was "effervescent, and a showcase for the nosebleed-inducing heights his falsetto can scale; it also serves as the conflation of Queen's influence and Lambert's own experiences and perspective". "Two Fux" is included in the Queen + Adam Lambert live show set list.
Lambert appeared as guest judge and musical coach on an episode of the third season of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.'' Due to its success, the Queen + Adam Lambert tour announced a fourth leg to commence June 7 in Lisbon, ending July 8 in Dublin. In March, ''Billboard'' reported that Queen + Adam Lambert topped their "Hot Tours" recap, with their Australian shows.
In May, Lambert teamed up with
Melissa Etheridge to open the
29th GLAAD Media Awards with a "ripping" performance of "
I'm the Only One
"I'm the Only One" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge from her fourth studio album, '' Yes I Am'' (1993). It was released as the first single in September 1993, reaching number 12 in Canada and number 26 in the Netherlands. ...
".
Days later, he appeared on ''
Live with Kelly and Ryan
''Live with Kelly and Ryan'' (or simply ''Live'') is an American syndicated morning talk show hosted by Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. Executive produced by Michael Gelman, the ''Live with...'' show formula has aired under various hosts since ...
'', announcing a 10-date Las Vegas residency for Queen+Adam Lambert in September 2018, at the Park Theater at
Park MGM
The Park MGM, formerly Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, is a megaresort hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The hotel, with a height of , has 32 floors, including a casino floor with 1,400 slot machines, 60 ...
. The new production, titled "The Crown Jewels", was well received. Lambert changed management to Philymack.
Lambert was a guest judge in the "Judges' Houses" segment of ''
The X Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–2003 ...
'' in October. He performed the duet "As Long As You're Mine" with
Ledisi
Ledisi Anibade Young (; born March 28, 1972), better known simply as Ledisi, is an American R&B and jazz recording artist, songwriter, music producer, author and actress. Her name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba. Ledisi AllMus ...
on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
's ''
A Very Wicked Halloween,'' commemorating ''
Wicked
Wicked may refer to:
Books
* Wicked, a minor character in the ''X-Men'' universe
* '' Wicked'', a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name
* ''Wicked'', the fifth novel in Sara Shepard's ''Pretty Little Liars'' s ...
''s fifteen years on Broadway. The performance was lauded for its brilliant harmonies and "impressive vocal riffs", and later released on ''Wicked: The 15th Anniversary Special Edition'' album. On December 2, he appeared on the results show of ''
Strictly Come Dancing''s Musicals Week, singing "
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released from the band's sixth album ''News of the World'' (1977). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems. ", from ''
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album ''News of the World''. ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it number 330 of " The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and it placed at num ...
.'' On the same date, he performed live at the
Kennedy Center Honors in support of honoree
Cher, singing "
I Got You Babe
"I Got You Babe" is a song performed by Sonny & Cher and written by Sonny Bono. It was the first single taken from their debut studio album '' Look at Us''. In August 1965, their single spent three weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 1 ...
" with
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...
and an orchestral ballad version of "
Believe", called an "event high point" by ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
''. Following the ceremony's broadcast on December 26, Lambert's performance was widely praised.
2019–present: ''Velvet'' and Queen + Adam Lambert
Lambert appeared with
James Corden on ''
The Late Late Show'' on January 20, 2019, for an
NFL themed episode, singing a parody of "
Don't Stop Me Now
"Don't Stop Me Now" is a song by the British rock band Queen featured on their 1978 album ''Jazz'' that was released as a single in 1979. Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it was recorded in August 1978 at Super Bear Studios in Berre-le ...
". On February 17, he performed a well-reviewed "rocking" version of "
Blue Suede Shoes
"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard (music), standard written and first recorded by American singer, songwriter and guitarist Carl Perkins in 1955. It is considered one of the first rockabilly records, incorporating elements of blues ...
" on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
's ''Elvis All-Star Tribute'', a recreation of
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
's ''
'68 Comeback Special''.
Lambert voiced the character Emperor Maximus and sung original songs for ''
Playmobil: The Movie'', a combination animated live-action film released in 2019. On December 3, Queen and Adam Lambert announced a 23 date arena and stadium tour with a brand new production for North America.
The Rhapsody Tour added additional dates in NYC and LA; at 25 dates the tour ran from July 10 through August 23, 2019.
Lambert released the song "Feel Something" on February 22, called an "achingly yearning ballad" by ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' that "showcases
isacrobatic vocal range". Co-written with
Benedict Cork,
Josh Cumbee and produced by Cumbee and Afshin Salmani, it was the first track revealed from the singer's then-upcoming fourth studio album, which was released through the independent label
Empire. Calling the song "a gift" to fans and the launch of a new era prior to his official first single, Lambert explained via
Instagram the process by which he emerged from a dark period of second-guessing, compromise and disillusionment - with "Feel Something" the emotional starting point for his new work. Days later he released a "captivating" live studio performance of "Feel Something", whose beauty and soothing tone capture the song's intent.
On February 24, 2019, Lambert and Queen were the first rock band to open the
Oscars
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
with an "explosive" performance of two classic Queen songs that earned a standing ovation. The following day, they announced a two-hour documentary, ''The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story,'' depicting the journey of their ongoing collaboration. The film aired on
ABC in April, offering rare behind-the-scenes concert footage and new interviews.
Roger Taylor appeared on ''
Good Morning America'' the same morning, calling the collaboration with Lambert "magical", and an example of "fate unfolding". On April 28, Lambert guest mentored ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
'' top 8 finalists on a Queen-themed night, and was praised for actionable advice that elevated performances.
In April 2019, ''The Rhapsody Tour'' expanded to include seven stadium dates in Australia and three in New Zealand, slated for February 2020; four shows in Japan and two in South Korea, for January 2020; and 26 shows in Europe including a ten show residency at
The O2 Arena in London.
On May 15, 2019, Lambert released "
New Eyes", the lead single from his fourth studio album ''
Velvet'', co-written with Paris Carney and produced by Jamie Sierota. The "effortlessly cool, sleek" song fuses modern and classic rock, while its video reflects the song's lyrics and '70s-inspired aesthetic. Directed by Miles & AJ, the video was the first part of a short film that accompanied the lead-up to the album release. Lambert returned to ''American Idol'' for its May 19 season finale to perform "New Eyes" and a duet with a contestant. On May 31, he performed the track on ''
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' (often shortened to ''Ellen'' or ''The Ellen Show'') is an American daytime television variety comedy talk show that was created and hosted by its namesake Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it was pro ...
'' and again on June 24 on the finals of ''
The Voice Australia''.
Lambert released
The Monarch-produced track "Comin in Hot" on June 26, along with the second video installment of the short film supporting ''Velvet''. The video was called "bewitching" and "mesmerizing", and the song said to extend the '70s rock-driven sound of the album's first single. Lambert revealed that ''Velvet'' would be released in two parts, with ''Side A'' slated for September 2019. "Comin In Hot" saw its broadcast debut on June 28 when Lambert performed a five-song set and was interviewed on ''Good Morning America'' Summer Concert Series, in celebration of Pride month and
WorldPride NYC 2019.
On September 4, Lambert released the single and video for "Superpower", appearing on ''
Velvet: Side A'', the first half of his fourth studio album. The
Tommy English produced song was co-written by Lambert, English and
Ilsey Juber
Ilsey Anna Juber (born April 17, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter from California. Juber co-wrote Mark Ronson's "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" feat. Miley Cyrus, along with much of Ronson’s ''Late Night Feelings'' album with vocals ...
, with video direction by Millient Hailes. Its weighty baseline and "smooth falsettos" reflect the '70s rock, funk-heavy core of the multi-genre album, which was released on September 27. ''
Billboard'' called the 6 track
EP his "best work yet", exuding confidence and raw vocal power. His proficiency and artistry across genres was also noted. He performed "Superpower" live on October 2 on ''
Live with Kelly and Ryan
''Live with Kelly and Ryan'' (or simply ''Live'') is an American syndicated morning talk show hosted by Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. Executive produced by Michael Gelman, the ''Live with...'' show formula has aired under various hosts since ...
'', and for Halloween week of
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...
's ''
Strictly Come Dancing''. On the 12th, he delivered a "show-stopping" performance of "Superpower" on ''
The Talk''. On October 15, a live black-and-white video version of the track "Closer to You" from ''Velvet: Side A'' was released, lauded as "a vocal masterclass". Its broadcast debut on ''
The Late Late Show with James Corden'' was highly praised, characterized as "scaling the song's heights with pop operatic virtuosity."
On September 28, Lambert with Queen headlined the 2019
Global Citizen Festival
The Global Citizen Festival is an annual music festival started in 2012 and organized by Global Poverty Project. It was founded by Ryan Gall and Hugh Evans. Gall said he was inspired by visiting Austin City Limits and seeing the branding on the ...
in New York City's
Central Park
Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated ...
. Dedicated to mobilizing world governments to eradicate extreme poverty and
address climate change, the festival posted its best ratings yet: with 60,000 in attendance and nearly 21 million views worldwide, it generated close to $1 billion in pledges.
In November, Lambert released a cover of "
Please Come Home for Christmas
"Please Come Home for Christmas" is a Christmas song, written in 1960 and released the same year by American blues singer and pianist Charles Brown. Hitting the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in December 1961, the tune, which Brown co-wrote with G ...
" for the ''Spotify Singles: Holiday Collection''. He was among several performers at the
Avicii tribute concert at
Friends Arena in Stockholm on December 5, to support suicide prevention and promote mental health awareness. On December 6, Lambert released a cover of
Cher's "
Believe" based on his 2018 performance at the
Kennedy Center Honors. He performed the song as a duet with Katie Kadan on the December 17 finale of the
seventeenth season of ''
The Voice
The Voice may refer to:
Fictional entities
* The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics
* The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe
* The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
''. On December 22, he performed on the
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
''A Home for the Holidays'' Christmas special to raise awareness about adoption and the foster care system. Lambert gave four well received solo concerts throughout December to promote ''Velvet: Side A''.
In January 2020, Lambert was nominated for a
GLAAD Media Award
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by GLAAD to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their liv ...
in the Outstanding Music Artist category for ''Velvet: Side A''. Lambert opened the
31st GLAAD Media Awards with a special performance on March 19 in New York City. On February 16 in Sydney, Lambert with Queen performed at the Fire Fight Australia concert to raise funds for relief from Australia's bushfires and replicated Queen's 1985
Live Aid set in its entirety.
On February 4, 2020, Lambert released the retro-funk track "Roses" featuring
Nile Rodgers. The Velvet Tour begins on August 3 at
Manchester Pride
Manchester Pride is a leading charity that campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality across the United Kingdom, predominantly in Greater Manchester. The Charity offers dialogue, training, research and policy analysis, advocacy and outreach activities focus ...
, followed by London's
SSE Arena Wembley and seven more shows across Europe. The tour was preceded by a mini-residence of five shows at The Venetian Theatre at
The Venetian Las Vegas in April.
Lambert with Queen united virtually on April 30 to release "You Are the Champions", a reimagining of "
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released from the band's sixth album ''News of the World'' (1977). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems. ", on streaming and download services, with proceeds going to the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of ...
's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. In May, Lambert was part of a 3-day livestream event called "Stronger Than You Think", a conversation to address mental health issues affecting teens and young adults, particularly during the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
pandemic. In June, he appeared on ''
The Late Late Show with James Corden'' to discuss his support and experience of the
Black Lives Matter movement, and gave an acoustic performance of "On the Moon" from ''Velvet''. Lambert participated in the GRAMMY Museum's virtual ''Programs at Home'', with an in-depth interview and acoustic four song set.
In July, in support of
Joe Biden's presidential bid, he performed "Ready to Run" at Biden's live-streaming fundraiser "Celebration for Change".
Queen with Lambert released their first album on October 2, 2020, ''Queen + Adam Live Around the World''. Debuting at number one on the
UK's Official Albums Chart, it was followed by a concert film of the same name on January 29, 2021, with tour footage and streaming or purchase access. The group announced that their United Kingdom and European tour would be postponed a second time to 2022 with multiple shows subsequently added.
In November, ''
Moonbase 8'' debuted, with Lambert in a non-musical guest acting role. Lambert sang "
Starman" for the three hour livestream event, "A Bowie Celebration", on what would have been Bowie's 74th birthday. He played the role of "Emile" in ''
Ratatouille the Musical'', a first of its kind collaboration between
TikTok
TikTok, known in China as Douyin (), is a short-form video hosting service owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which can range in duration from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.
TikTok is an international version o ...
and the theater community. What emerged was a full Broadway-style musical, streamed on January 1, raising two million dollars for
The Actors Fund, and scoring a
Drama League Award
The Drama League Awards, created in 1922, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing. Each May, the awards ...
nomination in an expanded digital category. Lambert sang on the concept recording of ''
Cinderella
"Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...
'', "rocking out" in his Prince Charming solo. The album was released in July, and debuted at number one on the
UK Official Compilations Chart, later garnering a 2022 Grammy nomination.
Lambert, through his Feel Something Foundation in partnership with
Pride Live, curated and headlined a three-day festival, the annual June
Stonewall Day
The Stonewall riots (also known as the Stonewall uprising, Stonewall rebellion, or simply Stonewall) were a series of spontaneous protests by members of the LGBT community#Terminology, gay community in response to a police raid that began in t ...
global celebration, to boost and preserve the legacy of the Stonewall riots and LGBTQ activism. He appeared on ''
The Kelly Clarkson Show'' on January 26, and discussed the possibility of developing his own beauty brand. In March 2021, Lambert revealed that he was writing a
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
-style rock and roll stage musical in collaboration with other songwriters. Set in the 1970s, the work will be about a real person; and represents his intent to expand into other creative spaces like acting and producing.
Lambert sang "These Are Your Rights", an "anthemic power ballad," for the episode "The Bill of Rights" in the
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
streaming series ''
We the People'' released on July fourth. The program won the
Emmy Award in the Outstanding Short Form Program category from the inaugural
Children's and Family Emmy Awards
The Children's and Family Emmy Awards, or Children's and Family Emmys, are a part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the National Academy of Television Arts a ...
presented in December.
In September, he participated in Global Citizen Live, a worldwide 24-hour broadcast and livestream event to defeat poverty and address the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May he appeared as a guest judge on the second season of ''
Legendary
Legendary may refer to:
* Legend, a folklore genre
* Legendary (hagiography)
** Anjou Legendarium
* J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium
Film and television
* ''Legendary'' (film), a 2010 American sports drama film
* ''Legendary'', a 2013 film fea ...
.'' Lambert appeared on ''
The Ellen Show
''The Ellen Show'' is an American television sitcom created by and starring Ellen DeGeneres that was broadcast during the 2001–02 season on CBS, aired from September 24, 2001, to January 11, 2002. It was DeGeneres' second attempt at a sitcom ...
'' in advance of his role as a judge on the reality competition ''
Clash of the Cover Bands'', that debuted in October.
He voiced the devil in a second animated program, ''
A Tale Dark & Grimm'', that also debuted in fall 2021, and has received nominations from both the
Emmy Awards and the Children's and Family Emmy Awards.
He returned to Las Vegas for six solo shows, including a live stream component, at The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas in October. In November, Lambert performed on the prime time television special, ''
The Queen Family Singalong''.
On ''The Kelly Clarkson Show'', he performed the duet he recorded with
Darren Criss
Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame starring on the television series '' Glee'' (2010–2015) and received Emmy and Golden Globe acting awards for his leading role as spree ...
for Criss' holiday album, a jazzy big band cover of the classic "
(Everybody's Waitin' for) The Man with the Bag
"(Everybody's Waitin' for) The Man with the Bag" is a Christmas song written in 1950 by Irving Taylor, Dudley Brooks, and Hal Stanley. The "man with the bag" is a reference to Santa Claus, who drops off presents from his sleigh to people who hav ...
"; a music video of the track was released the following day. Lambert performed two songs to close the 2021 ITV Palooza event; and appears as a judge on the new
ITV talent show ''Starstruck,'' that debuted on February 12. In April 2022, ITV announced that ''Starstruck'' would be returning for a second season with the same judging panel.
Lambert performed on the second annual global livestream event, "Rise Up With The Arts", which went live on World Theater Day, March 27, but extended on demand through April 23 due to popularity. In response to the crisis in
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
, funds raised were designated for
Save the Children's emergency appeal for Ukraine, as well as to support the theater community and the charity "icandance." Lambert headlined the April 30 show of
SunFest music festival in
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lagoon. The populati ...
; later he announced four more Florida solo shows plus one in Georgia, unofficially dubbing the dates the "Say Gay" tour in response to Florida's recently enacted
"Don't Say Gay" bill.
Queen and Lambert began the highly praised UK and European leg of
The Rhapsody Tour on May 27, with 2 consecutive shows at
Belfast
Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...
's
SSE Arena; also included were ten sold-out shows at
The O2 Arena in London, and a global live stream release of the third O2 show entitled 'Rhapsody over London', available July 24 and on demand until July 31. The thirty-seven date tour concluded on July 25 with 2 shows in Finland. On June 4, they opened the
Platinum Party at the Palace with a three-song set outside
Buckingham Palace, in honor of
Queen Elizabeth II's
Platinum Jubilee
A platinum jubilee is a celebration held to mark an anniversary. Among monarchies, it usually refers to a 70th anniversary.
The most recent monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other C ...
.
It was announced in June that Lambert would appear in the
Sophia Coppola produced film ''
Fairyland
Fairyland (''Faerie'', Scottish ''Elfame'', c.f. Old Norse '' Álfheimr'') in English and Scottish folklore is the fabulous land or abode of fairies or ''fays''. Old French (Early Modern English ) referred to an illusion or enchantment, the land ...
'', that will debut at the
Sundance Film Festival in January 2023. He returned to Las Vegas in October for the Halloween themed concert series "The Witch Hunt", consisting of three shows at the
Encore at
Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas, often simply referred to as Wynn, is a luxury resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned and operated by Wynn Resorts, and was built on the former site of the Desert Inn resor ...
; five California dates were subsequently added to the mini tour that concluded with a livestreamed show at the
Hollywood Palladium
The Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and includes an dance floor including a mezzanine and a floor level with room for up to 4,000 ...
on October 30.In October, it was announced that Lambert would return to
Warner Music Group with global representation on its UK based
EastWest Records. Ahead of new music, his first single release on the label was a cover of
Noel Coward's
Mad About the Boy that will feature in a documentary about Coward arriving in 2023. Lambert debuted the track with an "amazing" live performance on
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...
's ''
Strictly Come Dancing''.Also in October he performed two duets with
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades for her works in recorded music, film, televisio ...
, including the aria
Nessun dorma
"" (; English: "Let no one sleep") is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera ''Turandot'' (text by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni) and one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, (the unknown prince), ...
, on ''
The Jennifer Hudson Show''.
In December, Lambert announced a new album slated for release on February 24th, 2023. "High Drama" is a genre-spanning collection of reimagined cover songs that he flips to embrace his own sensibilities. It arrived with the release of the video and song
Ordinary world, called 'haunting' in its sound. The song debuted with a performance that "stunned" on the 2022 season finale of ''
The Voice
The Voice may refer to:
Fictional entities
* The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics
* The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe
* The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
'' that Lambert dedicated to victims of the November shootings at the LGBTQ+ Club Q. Lambert will be a judge on
ITV's Christmas special, ''Britain Get Singing'', a televised celebrity singing competition in support of mental health. He will perform on ''
The National Lottery's Big Bash'', a televised end of year party special held at
Ovo Arena Wembley on December 6.On December 17, he will perform on ''
The Jonathan Ross Show'' 's Christmas episode.
Artistry
Voice
Critics, celebrities and colleagues have been outspoken in their praise for Lambert's vocal command. Kathie Bretches-Urban, co-founder of Metropolitan Educational Theatre Network (now MET2) where Lambert performed as a youth, said "He has invested his entire life in music and performing ... He'd just come out onstage, and it popped".
Record producer
Rob Cavallo once described Lambert as having an unlimited range and able to sing every note on a guitar from the lowest to the highest. In a March 2012 interview, rock artist
Meat Loaf rated Lambert's voice in the company of only two others,
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
and
Aretha Franklin, based on "that jet pack quality to their voice that just lets it take off."
In 2011, when he took the stage at the
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an a ...
, honoree
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
guitarist
Brian May
Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and astrophysicist, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. May was a co-founder of Queen with lead singer Freddie Mercury and ...
noted that Lambert's voice has "sensitivity, depth, maturity, and awesome range and power which will make jaws drop"; while
Roger Taylor added that Lambert had "the best range I've ever heard" in a
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
interview in 2012.
'' album, commented, "This kid has a voice like a siren – there's no guys singing in that
'' reported that Lambert insured his voice for $48 million. A source told the tabloid newspaper: "Insurance for stars is a big deal in the US and Adam's voice is his bacon."
In a 2019 interview
, praised Lambert's vocal technique, power and the facility of his vocal control - judging him one of the best vocalists in the world.
Lambert is best known for his theatrical performance style and meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of his personal presentation. He draws upon extensive stage experience in the ease with which he can refine and define his image through fashion and other imagery, which are essential to how he chooses to inhabit his songs, rivet his audiences and showcase his individuality. While a contestant on ''American Idol'', Lambert's precise yet varied stagings of himself kept audiences and judges glued as much to his presentation as to his vocal talent. His signature flamboyance and glam rock styling was a break-out moment in men's fashion, duly noted by fashion publications and taste-makers, who compared him to
in terms of crossing style boundaries and being unabashedly individual.
Lambert made three fashion related TV appearances at the close of 2010. He fused his passion for music and fashion on
's "Talk@Playground", appearing in discussion with Skingraft designer Jonny Cota. He was a guest judge on ''
'' cover. He was the subject for whom the young designers of "All on the Line with
" created a modern look, which he then critiqued along with the show's hosts.
Lambert continued to grace the covers of magazines, moving more specifically into the fashion and culture space. Reflecting the mood and concept behind his album ''
'', the Fault Magazine fashion shoot exemplified Lambert's commitment to aligning the elements of his artistic vision so that a cohesive narrative emerges. When Lambert appeared on the December 2012 cover of London-based high style magazine ''
''s "Obsession" issue, he again took the opportunity to manipulate and provoke with his image and style. Sporting a sophisticated, minimalist look that recalled old Hollywood, Lambert played with male stereotypes and representations; and in the interview, emphasized that his fashion and presentation are often disparate from gay as well as straight regimes: "For the general audience, they look at the way I style myself and they go, 'Errrr, that's gay', but you ask a handful of gay guys and they're like, 'I would never wear that!
In August 2015, he was one of four artists to appear on the cover of ''Billboard''s "Music's Men of Style" issue. He discussed his natural shift towards a cleaner, more classic look; and reiterated that the intersection of music and fashion—the constant motion of trends—is a fascination and part of being a pop musician.
Lambert is represented by London-based MiLK Management modeling agency .
Lambert was inspired when his father gave him access to his large record collection of
. He was attracted to theatrical rock from artists like
, and Led Zeppelin. Lambert referred to Michael Jackson and Madonna as "King and Queen" because they creatively merged music with makeup, fashion and cinematic video.
Among his strongest influences are British singers such as Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and
: "Those are the people I really gravitate towards".
In March 2013, Lambert wrote an article for ''Out'' magazine's tribute to David Bowie, who was about to release a new album. In it, he explained how Bowie helped inform the expression of his own sexuality and gender in his work: "A light bulb went off—I wasn't into drag, I didn't want to dress like a woman, but I wanted to express my gender and artistic identity differently than the mainstream. Bowie was a key inspiration. It was about the androgyny of mixing it up, and that was what was so incredible about his concepts—he was one of the first rock stars to really push the idea that sexuality was not black and white but an exploration".
Lambert's own music has been influenced by numerous genres including
; and his performance style draws heavily from his stage experience. Lambert envisions himself as the type of artist "that creates from the ground up, not only an amazing song, but one with a beat, and a story, and a look, and a theme".
music.
'', Lambert has lent considerable support and time to charitable causes. , financial donations reached the $1,000,000 mark.
In January 2010, in lieu of gifts for his 28th birthday, Lambert asked fans to donate to
.org, as 2,435 fans donated $322,700. In June 2010, Lambert teamed with the charity for his "Glam A Classroom" campaign, raising another $208,590, supported by 3,020 fans. In October 2010, he collaborated on a second Signature Collection with The Pennyroyal Studio, which sold out after raising $43,092 for DonorsChoose. Lambert contributed to the
pendant, whose sale raised $32,000 in 7 days.
In January 2011, he began a campaign to raise $29,000 for
to commemorate his 29th birthday and the campaign raised $323,803, which helped 16,190 people receive clean water. He continued his efforts for his 30th birthday, in January 2012, this time asking fans to "give up" their birthdays in an ongoing drive that raised $82,000 by May 2012. In June 2013, an accounting by charity:water listed 55 projects thus far completed with funds raised by Lambert.
Lambert returned to the ''
'' stage for the March 10, 2011, results show, singing an acoustic version of his ''For Your Entertainment'' track "Aftermath". After the performance, a dance remix version was made available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting
concert on June 7, 2012, benefiting the Rays Of Sunshine Children's Charity.
On June 30, Elton John and Queen + Adam Lambert coordinated with the
. On September 25, 2012, Lambert headlined a fundraising benefit in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Marylanders for Marriage Equality.
On January 31, 2013, he received the Unity Award, which honors artists whose music spreads "peaceful messages", from the
at their 2012 Celebration Gala 2.0. Lambert "donated" his 31st birthday to the charity, raising more than $82,000 in just over a week. For his 32nd birthday, he chose the charity again, coordinating with artist Chris Saunders on the creation of limited and open edition prints and posters whose sales benefited the foundation.
On May 25, Lambert was a participant in the opening ceremony of 2013
in Vienna. Appearing as
, he performed the gala's official song, "Love Wins Over Glamour", which he co-wrote with the Vienna-based production team Beat4Feet.
On June 23, he sang "
. Lambert was a featured performer at the August 19 Dance Party event in
, benefiting All For The East End (AFTEE).
Ball. The sold-out 2013 Ball raised a record-breaking 2 million dollars.
Lambert is featured in the video launch for
's #IMAGINE campaign. In collaboration with Queen, he is a participant in
campaign to help end mother-to-child HIV transmission. In June 2015, he performed at the
for the "One for the Boys" Fashion Ball. Earlier that month, he performed at the "Live Aid Uusi Lastensairaala" concert in Finland. In July 2016, he took part in the charity single "
Humanitarian Award, in recognition of his philanthropy. Lambert through his "Feel Something Foundation" again worked with the charity in November 2020 to deliver medically tailored Thanksgiving meals to those most vulnerable during COVID. He performed a duet in October with
for the virtual 2020 Carousel of Hope Ball in support of the Children's Diabetes Foundation. In July 2021, he helped raise $1.1 million in funds for Project Angel Food during their
telethon.
. Lambert stated, "I feel like with celebrity and visibility and fame, there's a responsibility to try to give back and try to use the visibility for the greater good. It's not all about me. It's about trying to raise awareness and getting people to take action." His heavily provocative AMA performance, featuring a gay kiss on live television, served to push societal boundaries by highlighting a double standard of ethics in media regulation as well.
Los Angeles Equality Awards in August 2011 for being an exemplary role model for the LGBT community. He was honored with his mother the following month at the
nomination for Outstanding Music Artist in 2010. The same year, he lent his voice to a one-and-a-half minute video message on YouTube for the
, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT youth. He raised an additional $43,500 for The Trevor Project after collaborating with The Pennyroyal Studio to make his own Peace pendant. In October 2011, donations on behalf of the Adam Lambert Glambert Fan Army for the MTV Dance Party Marathon raised funds to combat bullying in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month. Lambert was a participant in
, a movement begun in 2010 to honor LGBT lives lost to suicide, "going purple" in the push to support LGBT youth in the fight against bullying.
In December, he performed at the "
& Friends: Home for the Holidays" benefit concert, which raised funds in support of the "True Colors Fund" and the organization's "Forty to None Project", targeting the epidemic of homelessness among LGBT youth. In January 2012, in an exclusive interview with UK music news magazine ''
'', Lambert noted that despite social progress in the US, there was still a long way to go, particularly in the music industry: "I still long for the LGBT community's diversity to be more broadly represented in the entertainment industry. I think larger strides have been made in film and TV but we still are just at the beginning with mainstream music. I consider myself a post-gay man working in a pre-gay industry."
Lambert was the headline performer at the
Gay Pride Parade and Festival on April 14, 2013, and was also given the key to the city. Lambert was presented with the prestigious
on May 11 in San Francisco. The honorary award is bestowed yearly to out media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equal rights in the LGBT community.
On May 30, he was honored with the "Hope of Los Angeles Award" as part of the city's 3rd Annual LGBT Heritage Month. Lambert is featured in "The New F Word" campaign sponsored by the grassroots Friend Movement organization, which has launched a global effort aimed at self-empowerment and raising anti-bullying awareness through positive images in media and the arts. On June 15, declared "Adam Lambert Day" by the City Council, he headlined
's "Pride in the Street" concert.
In honor of Pride season, Lambert partnered with
and The Trevor Project for the "Live Proud Campaign", aiming to empower and raise awareness in the
community. The $50,000 goal was met and on July 3 a check presentation was made to The Trevor Project during the private finale show given by Lambert.
At the October 15 Los Angeles premiere of the movie ''
'', Lambert revealed that he donated a song to the score, and felt "humbled" to be connected to the project. The powerful documentary about the intersection of love and the politics of marriage equality won the 2013
's Audience Award for Best Documentary.
Lambert was one of the featured performers at the TrevorLIVE gala on December 8 at the
. In February 2014, he performed for the
's 10th Annual Los Angeles Award's dinner. In June 2014, he teamed up with AT&T for its second annual "Live Proud" campaign, again in support of LGBT Pride Month and Pride season.
In April 2015 he was the recipient of the "Music Icon" award at the 2015 British LGBT Awards, honoring those whose actions help promote equality. In October, he received the "Music Award/ International Album" at the ''
, delivering a message against hate in all its human rights presentations.
's first "Queer Prom" for LGBTQ high school seniors from across the US. He was featured in ''Billboard''s tribute to Pride month, naming the LGBTQ community his "true inspiration" and "life lines". Released during Pride week, Lambert's newest single, "
Honors Gala in October 2017 in recognition of those who had made a significant impact on the LGBTQ community. Point Foundation is the largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit in the country. Later in the month, he performed on behalf of GLAAD's kickoff to its annual
at the 'Believer' Spirit Day concert event. In May 2018, along with Melissa Etheridge, he performed to open GLAAD's New York City 29th annual Media Awards;
and later in the month hosted a talk for teenagers at the Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre in London. Mosaic is an organization that seeks to support, educate and inspire by offering a safe space and variety of programs for LGBTQ+ youth.
In January 2020, Lambert launched an LGBTQ+ non-profit advocacy group called the Feel Something Foundation, a name it shares with his first single release from the album ''
''. Its mission is to support "LGBTQ+ organizations that are moving the needle for communities of all ages and backgrounds," and impacting important areas of LGBTQ life. Another specific goal is to "abolish 'coming out' as a term used to define someone simply being themselves." During the
launched two charity auctions of Lambert's stage-wear, with funds raised directed to
for LGBTQ people in need. The auction in June kicked off a series of events for Pride 2020 in support of GLAAD's youth engagement programs, including a panel with their Campus Ambassadors from around the US.
In April 2020, Lambert had participated in GLAAD's ''Together in Pride: You Are Not Alone'' livestream event, raising funds for LGBTQ community centers providing critical services during COVID. In early June, he announced a sizable donation from the Foundation to the LGBTQ Freedom Fund, to assist with bail for community members that were arrested during peaceful protests of
. On June 28, the Pride Music Business Creatives Roundtable was hosted by the Foundation, with Lambert and special guest artists discussing discrimination in the industry, their own coming out stories, and steps forward toward LGBTQ equalty.
Other notable Pride performances included "Can't Cancel Pride" to support multiple LGBTQ+ organizations; and
and people of color in the community. Lambert featured in a speaking segment on
's LGBTQ brand them.'s "Out Now Live", a virtual pride celebration to educate, entertain and raise money for the
targeting LGBTQ youth homelessness.
In December he again performed for Cyndi Lauper's annual "Home for the Holidays" benefit concert for True Colors United, which works to combat homelessness in LGBTQ+ youth. He hosted the first of two Stonewall Day Unplugged sessions on February 18 as part of the lead up to the June Stonewall Day celebration that Lambert, through his Feel Something Foundation, will be headlining and curating with
.
The resulting OUTLOUD: Raising Voices event featured a "queer for queer" lineup of LGBTQ artists only. On March 4, he participated in a celebratory event in support of the Center for Gender-Affirming Care at San Diego's
. Lambert, through his Feel Something Foundation, teamed up with Soundwaves Art Foundation in late March to create art prints, 100% of whose sale's profits would benefit The Trevor Project. He appeared on the
's Love in Action telethon on August 14, 2021.
After being outed on the internet during his bid to win ''American Idol'', Adam Lambert confirmed that he was gay in a ''Rolling Stone'' cover interview.
He was in a relationship with Finnish entertainment reporter and reality TV personality
from November 2010 until April 2013 when Lambert announced that they split up amicably.
From March to November 2019, Lambert was in a relationship with model Javi Costa Polo.
Lambert got his first tattoo at age 27 and continues to accumulate the symbols and artwork as representations of important themes and moments in his life. His first tattoo, an
, was on his wrist, acquired just before the start of ''American Idol''. Since then, he's covered his arms and torso with many more. He has been tattooed by notable tattoo artists
, Daniel Meyer, and Roxx.