Adam Lambert & JHud Share How They Planted the Seeds to Work with Queen and Aretha Franklin
Music October 19, 2022
Adam Lambert and Jennifer Hudson are doing more than alright despite not winning “American Idol.”
On “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (original air date October 19, 2022), JHud and the “Whataya Want from Me” singer reminisced about their time on the singing-competition show. While Jennifer placed seventh in Season 3, Adam was the runner-up of Season 8.
“Remember that emo hair?” Adam said about a throwback photo of himself on “Idol.”
Though they didn’t win their competitions, both Jennifer and Adam recognize how the show — featuring the original panel of judges, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul — acted as a stepping stone in their careers.
Recalling his audition, Adam — who noted that they didn’t air his entire segment — said he initially sang “Rock with You” by Michael Jackson but received “perplexed faces” from the judges.
“Let me sing something else,” Adam recalled saying.
He then performed Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and advanced to the next round.
Years later in 2012, Adam — who had performed with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor on “Idol” — played his first full concert with the legendary band in Ukraine. Adam has performed with Queen ever since and recently concluded a nine-week tour in Europe.
“If I hadn’t sung [‘Bohemian Rhapsody’], I wouldn’t be on tour with them,” Adam said.
On a similar note, Jennifer sang “Share Your Love With Me” by Aretha Franklin for her audition, and later portrayed the Queen of Soul in the 2021 biopic “Respect.”
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View Story“You need to plant the seeds,” Adam said about their careers.
“Neither one of us won ‘American Idol.’ Look at us now,” Jenn added. “We’re doing alright.”
On the subject of “Idol,” Jenn asked Adam if he still gets jitters on Wednesday, which was the show’s elimination night.
“I don’t get anxious on Wednesdays [but] for years after, if I saw a billboard for [‘Idol’], I fluttered,” Adam replied. “It was a strange experience. It was surreal.”
For Jennifer, being on the show felt like “being in a bubble.”
“People think you’ve made it. You’re trapped in worlds. Everyone expects you to be huge,” she said.
“I feel like I hopped on the ‘American Idol’ roller coaster,” Adam added about his journey. “It’s been up and down, side to side.”
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View Story“The Jennifer Hudson Show” airs weekdays. Check your local listings.
