Adam Lambert ruled 2009

This year has been a roller coaster ride forAdam Lambert.  From his first audition onAmerican Idol in January to his infamously risque AMA performance in November, Americans watched Lambert transform from an obscure theater performer to mainstream superstar before their eyes.

The extremely talented Lambert can wail like a hard rock banshee or sing slow, ethereal ballads that melt hearts.  His voice is truly an amazing instrument.  It's been a while since an artist of his unique caliber and vocal range came along.  Adam is not just a singer, he's a performance artist with mass appeal, a feat never before accomplished by a male (Lady Gaga managed to be the first female to achieve the same distinction this year).

Adam had people tuning into Idol this year in record numbers, giving a much-needed shot in the arm to the aging show.  Adam's popularity was based on his originality and versatility, and he continued to deliver amazing, goosebump-inducing performances week after week. Even before the competition was over, Adam was featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, which later named him Entertainer of the Year.

It came as a shock to many when folksy crooner Kris Allen ultimately won the competition, but it didn't stop Lambert from becoming the undisputed standout star of the summer Idols tour; in fact, he was the only Idol mobbed by autograph-seekers after every show.  Newsday columnist Glenn Gamboa declared Lambert was the only Idol who was "ready for stardom now" back in August.

His legions of fans (known as "Glamberts") are fiercely loyal - they happily donated over $253,000 to public schools at Adam's request.  Lambert told his fans to give to people in need instead of buying gifts for him, a show of generosity rarely observed in celebrities.

Following his stint on Idol, Adam has appeared on the covers of major magazines like Rolling Stone, Details, Out, and Billboard.  He has been unabashedly outspoken about his sexuality and the fact that he doesn't want to be seen as some kind of gay role model.  Adam told CBS's The Early Show cohostMaggie Rodriguez, "I'm not a babysitter, I'm a performer" following his AMA performance that landed him on ABC/Disney's sh-t list.  The network canceled two scheduled live appearances by Lambert (CBS scooped him up right away), but tried to make nice by airing pre-taped appearances on The View and Barbara Walter's Most Fascinating People of the Year special.

His hotly anticipated major-label album, For Your Entertainment, made an impressive #3 debut in November on the Billboard 200.  His second single from the album, "Whataya Want From Me," co-penned by Pink, has just been released.

So what does 2010 hold for Adam Lambert?  Expect more great music, more fun, and more controversy.  Adam wouldn't have it any other way.  After all, he's here for our entertainment.

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