American singer-songwriter Adam Lambert was BOTD in 1982. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana to a middle-class family, he was raised in San Diego, California. He developed an early interest in theatre, performing in jazz bands, glee clubs and local musical productions in his team. He studied briefly at California State University in Fullerton, leaving after five weeks to move to Los Angeles and pursue a music career. After performing on cruise ships, he was cast in Los Angeles and national touring productions of the musicals The Ten Commandments and Wicked. He rose to public attention in the 2009 season of TV talent show American Idol. Admired for his glam rock-inspired make-up and costumes and vocal resemblance to pop-soul singer George Michael, he was outed as gay during the series, confirming his sexuality soon after in a Rolling Stone interview. His debut album For Your Entertainment, released months after the finale of Idol, reached No 3 on the US Billboard, earning him a Grammy nomination for his single Whataya Want from Me. His 2012 album Trespassing debuted at No 1 on the US Billboard charts, making him the first openly gay American artist to reach No 1. In 2012, he began a series of successful tours with rock group Queen, performing songs made famous by the band’s former frontman Freddie Mercury. A recording of their tour, Live Around the World, reached No 1 in the UK album charts. He made his Broadway debut in 2024, playing the EmCee in a revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb‘s musical Cabaret. In 2019, he established the Feel Something Foundation in 2019 to support LGBTQ youth. Lambert was in relationships with entertainment reporter Sauli Koskinen and model Javi Costa Polo. His current relationship status is unknown.