7. Adam Lambert
The season 8 American Idol runner-up lands on this list because he outshone winner Kris Allen by a landslide. After the show ended, Adam Lambert used his eccentric individuality to create an artistic identity reminiscent of Freddie Mercury. In fact, Lambert is the first openly gay musician to land a number one spot on the Billboard 200 charts with his second album, Trespassing. The singer’s first release, For Your Entertainment, had debuted at number three, selling 198,000 copies in the first week. Lambert also headlined several world tours over the past five years, won a Grammy, and starred in the hit TV-series Glee.
