ROCK IDOL
Who is Adam Lambert from ITV’s Out, Loud and Proud documentary? Queen Frontman & LGBTQ+ activist talks Freddie Mercury
Find out what Adam's fears were when he joined Queen
ADAM Lambert has had an incredible singing career so far after rising to fame on American Idol.
The lead singer of Queen has managed to sell millions of albums and is now appearing on ITV's Out, Loud and Proud documentary.
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Who is Adam Lambert?
Adam Lambert was born January 29, 1982, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of a Leila, a dental hygienist, and Eber Lambert, a programme manager of Norwegian descent.
He was raised as Jewish, the religion of his mother, and has a younger brother called Neil – the family moved to San Diego, California shortly after he was born.
Adam showed early signs of being destined for a life of stardom, starring in local professional productions of Grease, Peter Pan and Hello Dolly! while still at high school.
Adam lasted just five weeks after enrolling in California State University, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in showbiz.
How did Adam Lambert get famous?
Adam spent several years striving for his big break, fronting an underground rock band The Citizen Vein while performing in musical theatre productions.
He was an understudy for the role of Fiyero in the hit musical Wicked, and toured as an ensemble member with the show from 2005 to 2008.
His big break came when he auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol in 2009, wowing the judges with performances of classic tracks Rock with You and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
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Simon Cowell was an early fan, giving Adam a standing ovation for a moving performance of the Tears for Fears and Gary Jules hit Mad World – the only time the notoriously harsh judge ever delivered such an accolade on the show.
Adam eventually finished runner-up behind fellow singer Kris Allen, and later placed fifth on a list of the 120 best contestants in American Idol's history.
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When did Adam join Queen?
Queen first performed alongside Adam on American Idol, and since 2011 the rock legends and singing star have collaborated as Queen + Adam Lambert.
The supergroup initially only made occasional appearances, such as a special show at the 2011 MTV Europe Awards and three London dates in 2012.
However, in 2014 they embarked on a successful 66-date world tour, and earlier this year performed at festivals across Europe and Asia to great critical acclaim.
At the beginning of working with Queen I was completely intimidated by the idea! I was like ‘What? Are you serious? You guys really want me to do this?’
Adam Lambert
Guitarist Brian May has praised the “awesome range and power” of the singing star’s voice, while drummer Roger Taylor said he had “the best range I’ve ever heard”.
Speaking to he said: “At the beginning of working with Queen I was completely intimidated by the idea! I was like ‘What? Are you serious? You guys really want me to do this?’
"I was intimidated by what fans would say and probably expect of me. Being in the shadow of Freddie Mercury is kind of a mind-f***, you know?
"But over the years, I got comfortable with the show and the set of songs."
In a May 2018 interview with he revealed he has his own style when singing with Queen: "At first I would try to hit the same notes and runs [as Freddie], then I learned to just sing the songs as they work for me, and in my style.”
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Is Adam married and does he have children?
Adam was in a relationship with Finnish entertainment reporter and reality TV personality Sauli Koskinen from November 2010 until April 2013.
From March to November 2019, he was in a relationship with model Javi Costa Polo.
Since late 2020, Adam has been in a relationship with partner Oliver Gliese.
Adam doesn't have kids.
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What TV shows has Adam Lambert starred in?
After finding fame on American Idol, Lambert has gone on to appear on multiple TV shows.
He has been on talk shows such as Jonathan Ross, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Adam's most recent TV role is being a judge on ITV's Starstruck where teams of super fans transform into their idol for a very special performance.
How to watch Adam Lambert: Out, Loud and Proud
Adam is appearing in his very own ITV documentary.
Called Out, Loud and proud the singer will talk candidly about his life in the spotlight.
He also explores how British LGBTQ+ artists have fought for their place in the music industry.
Adam's fellow Queen bandmate Brian May will also appear on the doc.
You can watch it on ITV and ITVX at 9pm on June 19, 2024.
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