'Idol' runner-up carves his own path (Updated February 13, 2013)

Controversial, flamboyant and theatrical have been just a few of the adjectives used to describe Adam Lambert. The runner-up in the eighth season of the FOX television series, "American Idol" was a critical and fan favorite, with the judges and the millions of voters impressed by the whole ensemble of the artist – from his neo goth clothing and eye makeup to the black nail polish, eye-catching hairstyles and eclectic arrangements. But it was his tenor vocals, above all, that led to a months-long run on the show, with Lambert carrying that success into the recording career he'd always longed for.

Not many "Idol" alums can boast the resume Lambert carried by the time he auditioned for the show. The California native had already established himself in the theater world, having performed in the ensembles for "Hello, Dolly!," "Camelot," "The Music Man," "Grease," and "Peter Pan" as a member of the outdoor theater company in Balboa Park. He later starred alongside Val Kilmer in "Ten Commandments: The Musical," and was an understudy in the touring production of "Wicked."

Though he was ultimately bested by Kris Allen in the "Idol" finale, Lambert was a hit on the summer-long "Idol" tour and quickly signed with RCA to begin working on his debut album. Titled "For Your Entertainment," the disc sold close to 200,000 copies during its first week, outdoing new releases by both Lady Gaga and Rihanna. He then continued to draw headlines for a risque performance at the American Music Awards – during which he kissed a male keyboardist – for promoting his sexuality. Lambert was, officially, the first openly gay "Idol" contestant, a fact that he never tried to hide before, during or after the competition.

Lambert's five-song EP "Acoustic Live!" was released in late 2010, followed by a concert album/DVD combo soon after. His full-length sophomore project, "Trespassing," was released in 2012 and featured a number of big-name collaborators like Bruno Mars, Nikka Costa, Sam Sparro and Pharrell Williams. He recently announced at a 2013 Pre-Grammy event that he would be touring in Asia for six weeks, including several shows in Tokyo.

About Adam Lambert Tickets

Adam Lambert finished as the eighth-season runner up on American Idol but went on to sign a record deal and release his first album in late 2009. Lambert has had several music endeavors since his time on American Idol and he is also known for his controversial outlook on the music industry. Find Adam Lambert tickets on SeatGeek and enjoy seeing this American Idol graduate live in concert.