Adam Lambert may not have won American Idol, but the show proved to be a great learning experience for the singer. Even after facing backlash for his sexuality and controversial performances, Lambert managed to emerge victorious and become a successful musician. Although some viewers were critical of his openly gay identity at the time, he explained that he was "very comfortable and secure with who I was" and that it was never a secret. Lambert's time on American Idol taught him valuable lessons in navigating the music industry, and he has since released five solo albums and toured with the legendary band Queen. Despite being threatened with a lawsuit and blacklisted from the industry after a controversial performance, Lambert has always managed to bounce back and continue his success.