Thursday, Apr. 01, 2010
Adam Lambert
Age: 28
Occupation: Singer
Previous TIME 100 Appearances: 0
Lambert isn't quite a pioneer. Clay Aiken was actually the first gay man to come close to winning American Idol — though he didn't come out of the closet until five years after taking second place. Lambert, on the other hand, made no excuses after a photo emerged during the competition of him kissing another man. With astonishing musical range and undeniable star power, he has seduced much of America into wanting him — even if he is, well, naughty. You know you've made it when hysterical teenage girls (and at least one man in military uniform) wait in line to get into a four-song gig on an icy-cold New York City night. And they know all the words to your songs.