• January 29, 1982
• Lambert was raised in his mother's Jewish religion. He has performed in Hebrew at Jewish events, singing songs such as "Shir LaShalom" (Song for Peace) at a 2005 tribute concert to assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
• Lambert has been a stage actor since he was about 10 years old. The theater productions he performed in include You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Hello, Dolly!, Chess, Camelot, The Music Man, Grease, Peter Pan and Hair.
• During his initial audition for the eighth season of American Idol, Lambert cited several musical influences, including Madonna, Queen, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin. Despite effusive praise from the judges, he finished second to Kris Allen. Although he failed to take the winner's place, Adam was invited to take part in American Idol' 10th Anniversary Album, released on March 15, 2011.
• Lambert is openly gay and had been out to friends and family for years before appearing on American Idol, but his sexuality was never discussed on the show and contestants weren't allowed to give interviews, so it wasn't until later that most fans found out.
• In 2009 Adam Lambert released his solo album For Your Entertainment, on which he worked with pop hit makers Lady Gaga, Greg Wells, Max Martin, Linda Perry, RedOne, Ryan Tedder, Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Sam Sparro, Kara DioGuardi, Alex James, Rivers Cuomo and Pink.
• His top hit "Whataya Want From Me" is written by Pink, Max Martin & Shellback. Pink originally recorded the tune for her 2008 Funhouse album but cut the song off the track listing at the last minute and handed it off to Lambert. In 2010 she recorded her own version of the song.
• Just before his debut album was launched, a new (old) track appeared with Adam singing vocals on it, which could have made him ineligible for American Idol. To give an explanation, Adam issued this statement through his official site: "Back in 2005 when I was a struggling artist, I was hired as a studio singer to lend my vocals to tracks written by someone else. I was broke at the time and this was my chance to make a few bucks, so I jumped at the opportunity to record for my first time in a professional studio. The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on."
• Lambert contributed the song "Time for Miracles" for the science fiction disaster film 2012. The official music video portrays Lambert walking placidly through a disaster scene, like those portrayed in 2012.
• When Trespassing topped the Billboard 200 in 2012, Lambert became the first openly gay male artist to reach #1 on the albums chart.
• In 2011, Lambert became the touring frontman for Queen. It was a gig it seems he was fated to do, having auditioned for American Idol with "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Comments

More Songfacts:

DilemmaNelly

Kelly Rowland was the first Destiny's Child member to have a hit away from the group: her Nelly duet "Dilemma."

Afternoon DelightStarland Vocal Band

The Starland Vocal Band got the title "Afternoon Delight" from the late-afternoon appetizer menu at the restaurant Clyde's Of Georgetown in Washington, DC.

Everything ZenBush

References to David Bowie, Tom Waits and Allan Ginsburg are peppered into the Bush song "Everything Zen."

Rum and Coca-ColaThe Andrews Sisters

The '40s hit "Rum and Coca-Cola" is really about American soldiers soliciting prostitutes in Trinidad.

Give Me Everything (Tonight)Pitbull

Pitbull's line "I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan" in his 2011 song "Give Me Everything (Tonight)" didn't go over well with Lohan, who sued him for defamation. Around this time, she was in a downward spiral and often getting arrested. Her case was thrown out, but she did get her life back together.

FancyIggy Azalea

The video for Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" pays homage to the classic 1995 film Clueless with the rapper playing Cher and featured singer Charli XCX portraying Tai. It was filmed at some of the same locations used in the movie.

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.